Solothurn’s special number

Solothurn’s history is closely tied to the ‘holy’ number 11. Solothurn residents young and old regard the number 11 as magical or even sacred. The traditions surrounding the number extend far into the past and are celebrated in many different ways to this day. Several references to the number 11 have been passed down over the years. According to legend, the town’s patron saints – Ursus and Victor – were soldiers in the 11th Theban Legion during the Roman Empire. As Christian converts, the men were martyred by beheading in Salodurum (Solothurn). In the Swiss Confederation, Solothurn is listed as the 11th canton. The town is known for its 11 churches and chapels, 11 fountains and 11 towers. The elevens of yore also include 11 trade guilds, bailiwicks, canons and chaplains.

Altars

St. Ursus Cathedral, Solothurn’s most famous landmark, is a masterpiece of ‘magical elevens’. In 1762, Italian architect Gaetano Matteo Pisoni, of Ascona, was so fascinated by the number’s mythical status that he based the church design on it. The monumental staircase leading to the front entrance is divided into three sections of 11 stairs. The height of the bell tower (66 m) is divisible by 11 and it holds 11 bells. Inside the cathedral, its 11 altars are visible from a single spot in the entryway – the 11th black stone. The prayer kneelers are arranged in rows of 11. The number of pipes in the main organ is divisible by 11. Construction lasted for exactly 11 years, from 1762 to 1773.

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Fountains

Village fountains, where women used to wash their families’ clothes, are ubiquitous in European cities and towns. There are few fountains, however, as ornate as those in Solothurn. The wealth that flowed into the town from the French embassy is on display to this day. Most of the fountains were constructed in the 16th century. Incidentally, Bern’s old town is also home to 11 monumental old fountains.

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A curious clock

Solothurn’s 11-hour clock, its dial conspicuously lacking a 12, keeps ‘Solothurn time’ – at 11 am, noon, 5 pm and 6 pm, the iconic harlequin figure seated atop the clock plays the ‘Solothurner Lied’, the town’s unofficial anthem, on 11 chimes. The clock was designed by the artist Paul Gugelmann, of Gretzenbach, in the Canton of Solothurn. The 11-hour clock can be found on the west wall of the UBS building, located at Amthausplatz 1 (on the Schanzenstrasse side) in Solothurn.

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Beer

The love of the number 11 is not confined to the history books. In Solothurn today, the number is everywhere you look: visit fascinating exhibits at the town’s 11 museums, try the locally brewed Öufi beer (available in a range of styles) and float down the Aare on the popular Öufi Boat tour – ‘Öufi’ meaning 11 in local dialect.

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