Olten is a small Swiss city of about 19,000 people in the canton of Solothurn, first mentioned in 1201 and built around a strategic Aare River crossing that has shaped the town since medieval times. Today it’s best known as one of Switzerland’s key railway junctions—lines from here fan out toward Zürich, Bern, Basel, Lucerne and Biel—and its station is among the country’s busiest, giving the city an “always in transit” energy despite its modest size. For sightseeing, the compact old town is an easy wander, with the landmark covered wooden bridge over the Aare (first mentioned in 1295) and a riverside setting that’s great for short strolls and café stops; culture fans also note Olten’s literary links via the Gruppe Olten writers’ circle founded here.
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