Eleven facts about Solothurn
Solothurn’s lucky number is eleven and here are that many facts about this pretty Baroque city on the river Aare.
1. The Roman settlement that would eventually become the city, was founded around 20 AD.
2. Solothurn’s love of the number eleven has good cause: the city has eleven churches and chapels, eleven historic fountains, eleven museums, and eleven towers. Canton Solothurn was the eleventh to join the Confederation.
3. Their cathedral took eleven years to build and the steps leading to the doors are grouped in elevens, with eleven altars and eleven bells within.
4. Solothurn’s home brewery is called Öufi (eleven).
5. The night of 11.11 1382 is known as the Solothurner Mordnacht. Hapsburg allies wanted to take the city, but their plans were betrayed to the Solothurners who valiantly rebuked the invaders. Instead, the army attacked the peasants living outside the city walls—the exact number of victims is unknown.
6. The Solothurner Torte is a meringue and hazelnut cake that was first made in 1915 and can be purchased at numerous Solothurner bakeries. My recipe, here.
My version of the Solothurner Torte.
7. The patron saints of Solothurn are Ursus and Victor who were beheaded in 286 for refusing the worship the Roman Emperor Maximian.
8. From the 16th to 18th century, Solothurn was home to the French ambassador to Switzerland.
9. Solothurn is the birthplace of the famous Swiss chef, Anton Mosimann. He trained in Switzerland but went on to be awarded 2 Michelin stars at the Dorchester in London, opened his own private dining club and cookery school, and cooked for the British Royal Family.
10. One of Switzerland’s best Middle Eastern restaurants, Pittaria, began in Solothurn (they now also have two locations in Bern), and is run by indomitable pita king, Sami Daher. (Try the halloumi pita, it’s perfection.)
11. While in Solothurn, why not visit the beautiful Verena Gorge, a lovely series of paths, grottoes, streams, and a chapel built into the side of the mountain. You can read about the whole legend here.
