9 good reasons for a trip to Olten

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Olten – a household name for everyone and yet very few of us really know it. Or to sum it up in Patti Basler’s words: “Not quite summer, not quite winter, more like Lenz. That’s Olten.” And that’s exactly why we picked out one of the first beautiful days of spring to explore the seemingly average small town in the Swiss Plateau. For once, we didn’t subconsciously register the Olten city scenery on the train journey, but immersed ourselves deeply in its history.

From this detour, we have brought you nine good reasons for a stopover in Olten. Because one thing became clear to me on this day trip: Anyone who reduces Olten to its function as a public transport hub is definitely doing the charming small town an injustice.

1. Because Olten is home to kilometre zero of the Swiss rail network

When visiting Olten, however, its role as a railway junction cannot go unmentioned. Olten’s economic and urban development over the past 150 years is closely linked to the development of the Swiss railway network. Olten recognized the advantages of this means of transport early on and campaigned for a connection to the Bern-Aarau and Basel-Lucerne lines planned by the Central Railway (SCB) in the mid-19th century. These two lines intersected in Olten and at the same time Olten served as a provisional zero point for surveying the SCB railway network. Olten thus not only moved into the centre of Switzerland, but also experienced a veritable boom phase due to the jobs associated with it.

Today, a memorial stone on track 12 commemorates this historic moment. And to this day, the Olten station buffet is a popular meeting place for meetings due to its good accessibility. I feel connected to this place in that I speak the typical “Bahnhofbuffet-Olten dialect”. A mishmash of different dialects, in which the regional origin can no longer be clearly assigned.

2. Because fans of classic coffee houses and brunch lovers alike will find their happiness

But now we leave the train station behind us and immerse ourselves in the city of Olten. Before we dedicate ourselves to the sights in the old town, we want to fortify ourselves with a coffee.

Two Olten breakfast restaurants caught our eye. These include Café Ring, which opens at 6:30 a.m. during the week and exudes the flair of a classic coffee house. The rustling of leaves, quiet snatches of conversation, a lively coming and going, a colourful mix of guests – some alone, some in pairs or in small groups. Perfect for all early risers who want to flip through the daily newspaper while drinking coffee. Or to fortify yourself before a walk through the city.

If you prefer to start your day with an extensive brunch, head to the Bloomell Coffeehouse in Olten Südwest. At first glance, the development area does not seem particularly inviting. But the Bloomell enjoys an excellent reputation with its daily breakfast offer (from 09:00 to 16:00). Alternatively, it’s also worth taking a detour for a “coffee and cake refreshment” in the afternoon (that’s what we did).

3. Because Olten’s old town scores with exciting sights

So, now it’s time to stroll through the cobblestone streets of the old town and look out for exciting contemporary witnesses. To get an overview, we go to the Tourist Center at Frohburgstrasse 1. Here we receive a compact brochure in which a total of 30 buildings and monuments worth seeing are located and explained with a short description.

Our city tour then takes us along the Amtshausquai to the monastery square at the Capuchin monastery. Here it is worth taking a look into the inner courtyard as well as into the monastery church, which is rather inconspicuous from the outside. The Capuchin monastery in Olten was founded in 1646. Before the end of this year, the monastery chapter will close – this due to ageing and a lack of young people. It is still unclear which uses will be accommodated here in the future.

Passing the eye-catching façade of the Rathskeller, we reach the oldest district of Olten. The old town, located directly on the Aare, is reminiscent of an onion in its shape and alley structure. The main street, Marktgasse and the side streets, which are lined with small shops and restaurants, form an extensive car-free promenade. From the organic shop “Marktecke” to the gelateria “Kalte Lust” (which is used as a soup bar during the winter months) to the Confiserie Suteria, there are some exciting (and also delicious) shops here.

The Marktgasse is particularly pretty. If you follow it, you will be led directly to the Olten city tower. The church building that once belonged to it was demolished in the first half of the 19th century due to lack of space.

Marktgasse is also home to the Spittel – the former municipal almshouse and orphanage and the so-called “Witches’ Tower“.

4. Because exciting vantage points can be climbed on city tours

The Olten City Tower offers a great bird’s eye view of the alleys of the old town and – if the weather is right – further beyond the Säli Schlössli to the Bernese Alps. The steep steps up to the bell tower can be climbed as part of a city tour. On the website of Region Olten Tourism you will find an overview of the current dates of the public guided tours of the old town (in the short one-hour version, however, without climbing the city tower) as well as other exciting themed tours.

Another building worth seeing, which at the same time offers an impressive panoramic view over Olten and the surrounding hill ranges, is the Stadthaus. Built between 1963 and 1966 according to a design by the trio of architects Willy Frey, Alois Egger and Werner Peterhans, the high-rise is considered a building tool of modern Swiss architecture. I immediately feel reminded of Le Havre at the sight of it (and anyone who has read my blog post at that time knows that this is meant quite positively). The roof terrace of the townhouse is also accessible as part of a guided tour and, in my opinion, offers the best panoramic view of the city.

5. Because there are many Olten anecdotes waiting to be told on the Swiss Writers’ Trail

Now you can either find Olten’s sights by strolling through the alleys of the old town on your own, visit them as part of a city tour or get personal access to them with stories in your ears. The last one is my personal Olten highlight. The instructions for this can be found either in digital form on the website of Region Olten Tourism or also in the form of a clearly designed printed brochure at the Tourist Center. In addition, you will need a charged smartphone and, ideally, headphones – so you are prepared for an ascent of the Swiss Writers’ Trail.

And the fantastic thing is that you can expect six different tours with over 70 listening stations! Among them are funny, thoughtful and entertaining anecdotes about Olten’s sights and personalities – told by Franz Hohler, Alex Capus and Pedro Lenz, among others – or: Patti Basler. For families, there is even a specially designed “family tour” by Christian Schenker.

My tip: Look for the listening stations in the old town, scan the QR code and let yourself be captivated by the stories.

More information about the Swiss Writers’ Trail: on the website of Region Olten Tourism you will find PDF flyers, audio samples and more

6. Because a concentrated load of culture awaits you in Olten

Olten not only has a lot up its sleeve in terms of literature, but also scores with a rich cultural program. The numerous exciting exhibitions in Olten’s museums also contribute to this. Three of them are located in a prime location between Stadthaus and Kirchgasse – the House of Museums, the Art Museum and the IPFO House of Photography.

We actually only wanted to take a quick look at the House of Museums – the Olten Nature Museum, the Olten Historical Museum, the Archaeological Museum of the Canton of Solothurn and a special exhibition (currently on the subject of ice) are grouped together here over four floors. However, we found the exhibition (especially in the Natural History Museum) so exciting that we spent almost two hours in the House of Museums. A great bad weather tip – even with children!

The Kunstmuseum Olten as well as the IPFO House of Photography also regularly curate exciting exhibitions. At the beginning of May, for example, a special exhibition on the occasion of Franz Hohler’s 80th birthday will open at the Kunstmuseum.

Before your visit, consult the respective websites for the current opening hours. The IPFO House of Photography and the Art Museum do not open until noon/afternoon. In addition, all three museums will be closed on Monday.

7. Because Olten scores with a casual pub scene

With this concentrated load of activities, hunger sooner or later makes itself felt. During our visit to Olten, we tried two traditional restaurants and can recommend both.

At noon we stopped at Salmen. The restaurant is located on the Ringstrasse opposite the church of St. Martin. In addition to classics, there are three well-cooked lunch menus to choose from at lunchtime. In the evening, a multi-course menu is served.

In the evening, on the recommendation of friends, we reserved a table in the Flügelrad restaurant. Thanks to its location right next to Olten train station, it is a place to meet friends who have been scattered over the years in different Swiss cities. The local classic: the Cordon Bleu. And yes: we can also recommend this with a clear conscience after an appropriate inspection.

By the way: Before entering the restaurant, listen to the story of Pedro Lenz posted there.

8. Because there is no shortage of casual aperitif locations in Olten

In addition to the two restaurants mentioned above, there are of course other nice places to stop for refreshments in the old town. At this point, I would like to highlight the Sisième Rooftop Bar in the Hotel Astoria. Always well attended and with a great view over the rooftops of Olten, a casual location for an aperitif or a nightcap.

As soon as the days get warmer, city life increasingly shifts to the banks of the Aare. A particularly beautiful view of the old town is offered by the Aarebistro at the Old Bridge. And the newly designed Ländiweg between the train station and the Old Bridge will probably soon become a popular place to linger.

9. Because gorges and castles are waiting to be discovered around Olten

Another reason for a detour to Olten are the numerous excursion options that are available around the city. The Dreitannenstadt is nestled between the foothills of the Jura chain, the Born, the Engelberg and the Säli. On my bucket list is still the hike along stage 4 of the ViaGottardo from Olten via Aarburg to the restaurant Säli-Schlössli in a panoramic location high above Olten.

On the other hand, we have already completed another hiking classic near Olten: the hike through the mystical Tüfels Gorge.

More tips for your trip to Olten

• The Olten Tourist Center is open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. There you will find lots of well-designed brochures and information material for your city tour.
• The public guided tours of the old town usually take place twice a month and cost 15 CHF. An overview of the upcoming tours as well as other events can be found here: Ticket sales
• During the summer months, Olten also attracts visitors with a centrally located lido. Perfect to end the city tour with a cool down.