Museum Altes Zeughaus


Fresh from extensive renovations completed in late 2016, the early 17th-century rust-coloured facade of this vast, multi-windowed arsenal museum is a reminder that Solothurn was once a centre for mercenaries, many of whom fought for French kings. Inside you'll find an impressive collection of displays and artefacts that date from the Middle Ages and chronicle the history of this beautiful baroque town.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Baseltor

0.05 MILES

Just east of the cathedral, this is Solothurn's most attractive city gate. Nearby, the city’s former bastion makes a decent picnic spot.

2. St Ursen-Kathedrale

0.06 MILES

Architect Gaetano Matteo Pisoni restrained himself with the classical Italianate facade of Solothurn’s monolithic 18th-century cathedral, but went wild…

3. Jesuitenkirche

0.09 MILES

The unprepossessing facade of this church (1680–89) disguises an interior of baroque embellishments and stucco work. All the ‘marble’ in here is fake –…

4. Zeitglockenturm

0.11 MILES

A knight, a king and a Grim Reaper jig on the hour atop this 12th-century astronomical clock with its hands reversed so the smaller one shows the minutes…

5. Kunstmuseum

0.11 MILES

The centrepiece of Solothurn's Fine Arts Museum is Ferdinand Hodler’s famous portrait of William Tell (looking a bit like a red-haired, bearded Goliath in…

6. Gerechtigkeits-Brunnen

0.12 MILES

West of the clock tower, this fountain (1561) portrays a blindfolded Justice, holding aloft a sword, while the four most important contemporary figures in…

7. Burgdorf Unterstadt

11.12 MILES

In the new Lower Town, the works of Switzerland’s foremost photo-realist painter steal the show at the Franz Gertsch Museum.

8. Franz Gertsch Museum

11.2 MILES

The works of Switzerland’s foremost photo-realist painter steal the show at the Franz Gertsch Museum.

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