Solothurn 2 000 Years

10 June 2020

The Romans founded the settlement of Salodurum (literally, “water gate”) around 20 AD. The main reason was the construction of a road (and a bridge over the Aare River) between Aventicum (Avenches) and Vindonissa (Windisch).

The town became a fortress with the usual Roman public and private buildings; some remnants can still be seen in the Old Town.

The city had Burgundian kings (kingdoms of Burgundy, c. 460-c.536 and 888-1032), Frankish kings and emperors (c. 536-888), and German kings and emperors (Holy Roman Empire (from 1033) as its rulers, but it became an independent imperial city in 1218.

The town acquired large territories afterwards and joined the Swiss Confederation in 1481. The city’s prestige was confirmed by close ties with France (and the lucrative mercenary business) and the establishment of a French embassy (until 1792). The famous Hotel de la Couronne, along with many splendid buildings and monuments, are witnesses to this period.

(Source: www.solothurn-city.ch).