North-western Switzerland
Northwestern Switzerland is the common name of the region of Switzerland encompassing the cantons of Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft and Aargau.
Situated between the Rhine and the Rhône, the geological folds and faults of the Jura mountain range form the border between Switzerland and France and extend from Geneva, in the southwest, to Schaffhausen, along the northern border.
Basel
Basel has a wealth of avant-garde architecture that juxtaposes with its enchanting Old Town, and is both built for business and deeply cultural. The city itself boasts a diverse collection of almost 40 museums, but a host of lesser-known treasures awaits in the surrounding verdant countryside.
This small but very picturesque town of the medieval era rises majestically on the Rhine. It is a large industrial chemical and pharmaceutical center, at the same time being called the city of science and art. The city has an interesting and very profitable location for attracting tourists: on the border of Germany, Switzerland and France.
A short excursion outside Basel leads to Switzerland’s finest Roman ruins at Augusta Raurica and you can also visit Basel City Hall, Tangley Fountain, Spalentor Gates, Roche Tower skysraper, Botanical Garden of the University of Basel, Zoos, cathedrals and museums.
At any time of the year, almost every month, holidays and festivals are held in Basel. It residents the Vogel Griff festival, which has become the hallmark of the city. Among the favorite events of the townspeople is Fasnacht. It begins with Great Catholic Lent. A carnival procession, accompanied by numerous musicians, passes through the streets of the city. In August, a colorful festival of military bands takes place. Previously, it was popular in many countries and cities of Europe, but it has not reached such a scale as in Basel anywhere.
Olten
Olten lies at the junction of the north-south Basel-Chiasso and east-west Geneva-St.Gallen railway lines. Especially popular are the car-free pedestrian zones of the Old Town with very interesting buildings and attractive shopping possibilities, along with an active music and extraordinarily varied cabaret scene.
When undertaking a tour through the old town, a visit to Olten’s museums, the nature museum, art museum, historical museum and home of the cantonal archaeological museum and «Wertpapierwelt», the historical museum of shares and bonds, is well worthwhile. Those with a yearning for the exotic will find Switzerland’s largest Thai temple in nearby Gretzenbach. Finally, on travelling around Olten, visitors will encounter a multitude of interesting fortresses, ruins, castles, churches and chapels.
Numerous excursions, walking trails and bicycle tours in a surprisingly untouched natural environment with light broadleaf forests lead towards the Jura and along the course of the river Aare. Following a climb through the famous «Tüfelsschlucht» (Devil’s Gorge) on to the «Allerheiligenberg» (All Hallows Mountain) and then making your way on to Belchen, you’re then rewarded with a delightful panoramic view across the Swiss Mittelland. The numerous steep Jura faces, climbing walls and quarries attract ambitious climbers to the region as well.
Aarau
Aarau is situated on the right side of the Aare river and at the foot of the Jura Mountains, the city will give you the best view nature has to offer. Not to mention the fact that Aarau is exceptionally close to Zurich, Basel, and Lucerne. Aarau is home to three of the gorgeous castles in Switzerland : Hallwyl Water Castle, Lenzburg Castle — The Dragon Castle and Habsburg Castle. The city is famous for its parks and incredible walking-tours.
Solothurn
Solothurn is regarded as the finest Baroque town in Switzerland, where Italian grandeur is combined with French charm and German practicality. The so-called «ambassador’s town» is at the southern end of the Jura by the River Aare, about 30 km east of Biel/Bienne.
From the 16th to the 18th centuries, the Catholic town of Solothurn was the residence of the French king’s ambassador. Fine Baroque and Renaissance buildings, such as the noble Palais Besenval, and magnificent religious buildings meet the visitor at every end and turn — the Old Town has eleven churches and chapels and the same number of fountains and towers. Truly magnificent is the St.Urs Cathedral, with an Italian-style staircase in front. Inside are wonderful Baroque stuccos. The town walls, which are still intact in some places, were built according to the principles of the French military engineer Vauban.
The town has a range of cultural attractions going far beyond the regional, including the Solothurn Film and Literature Days. The museums range from the History Museum to the internationally acclaimed Natural History Museum, a Museum of Stones, the ENTER PC Museum and Schloss Waldegg, not to mention a collection of sentimental light fiction. Finally, in the «Old Arsenal» is one of the largest weapons collections in Europe.
A little outside the town is the romantic Verena gorge with its chapel and hermitage, a popular destination for walkers. Hikers and cyclists will find an extensive network of footpaths and 600 km of cycle tracks in the surrounding area and along the Aare. Solothurn is on two national cycle routes: the Mittelland Route and the Aare Route.
Northwestern Switzerland, with its valleys, waterfalls, and old-world villages, is one of the most beautiful regions in the country. Most of the region has a medieval feel, reflected mainly in the ancient architecture.
The area lies at the juncture of Germany and France and encompasses the Jura mountain range, Basel, and the surrounding towns. During this part of your journey, you’ll zigzag between two cultures.