Olten

Olten
Olten
	Old town with covered bridge
; Olten [zoom]
Canton	Solothurn
District	Olten
	47°21′N 7°54′E / 47.35°N 7.9°ECoordinates: 47°21′N 7°54′E / 47.35°N 7.9°E
Population	16,665 (December 2003)
- Density	1,449 /km2 (3,753 /sq mi)
Area	11.50 km2 (4.44 sq mi)
Elevation	396 m (1,299 ft)
Postal code	4600
SFOS number	2581
Mayor	Ernst Zingg
Surrounded by; (view map)	Aarburg (AG), Boningen, Dulliken, Kappel, Rothrist (AG), Starrkirch-Wil, Trimbach, Wangen bei Olten, Winznau
Twin towns	Altenburg (Germany)
Website	www.olten.ch; SFSO statistics

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Olten is a town in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland and capital of the district of the same name.

Olten's station is within 30 minutes of Zurich, Bern, Basel, and Lucerne by train, and is a rail hub of Switzerland.

[edit] History

House in the Old Town

Despite the presence of numerous archaeological evidences of early habitation, Olten is first documented in 1201. It became important in the 13th century because of its bridge over the Aar River. This geographical fact has determined much of its history. Mgr.Bruno Bernard Heim was born in Olten.

[edit] Culture

Every year, on August 1, a large firework show occurs from boats floating down the river. It is also home to a wooden foot bridge, one of the towns landmarks. In Olten's train station restaurant, the Gruppe Olten (Olten Group), a group of writers that included Max Frisch and Friedrich Dürrenmatt, was founded, as was the Swiss Alpine Club in 1863.