Naturmuseum Solothurn

About the museum

The beginnings go back to the 18th century: in 1765 the Solothurn Economic Society already owned a mineral collection. In 1823 the Natural Science Society was founded, and in 1825 the clergyman and professor Franz Joseph Hugi sold his natural history objects to the city. They formed the foundation of the first museum, which was housed in an old orphanage.

Around 1902 the municipal museum moved into its own building in the former city moat, where art, antiquities and natural history were shown under one roof. This classic multi-disciplinary museum was dissolved in 1978; the building has served as an art museum ever since, while the natural history museum continues as an independent municipal museum.

Today the museum on Klosterplatz presents the animals, plants, rocks and fossils of the Solothurn region. Famous are the turtles, about 150 million years old, from the city's quarries, the starfish from the Weissenstein and the dinosaur tracks of Lommiswil; the museum has a mandate from the canton to protect the fossils. After more than 35 years, the permanent exhibition was completely renewed in a multi-year project and completed with the exhibition “Schwimmen und fliegen” (“Swimming and Flying”).

Highlights

• Fossilised turtles and starfish from the Jurassic sea
• Dinosaur tracks of Lommiswil with a matching exhibition
• Local mammals from the hazel dormouse to the brown bear
• Live fish, frogs and toads in the large aquarium
• Animals and objects on open display may be touched

Permanent exhibitions

• Vernetzt und bewegt – Permanent exhibition on the ground floor on local mammals and their habitats of forest, open country and settlements, with an aquarium and interactive stations.
• Schwimmen und fliegen – Permanent exhibition on the first floor about fish, waterfowl and mammals by the water, and the diversity of birdlife, with a view into a beaver lodge.
• Warm und kalt – Permanent exhibition on the second floor on Earth's history: the tropical Jurassic sea with dinosaurs about 145 million years ago and the Ice Age about 25,000 years ago.

Operated by

Einwohnergemeinde Solothurn (städtisches Museum)

Director

Thomas Briner

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission; the museum deliberately waives a fixed fee. Admission is also free for schools and groups. Charged are guided tours (CHF 160 during regular opening hours, outside them an additional CHF 50 per hour of supervision), children's birthday parties and some puzzle booklets for families.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Access and exhibitions are wheelchair accessible; there is a lift, a wheelchair-accessible toilet and a marked free parking space for wheelchair users. Animals and objects on open display may be touched.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

Regular children's programmes (animal stories, readings, family events) and puzzle booklets such as “Das Abenteuer von Dr. Bakteribus & Rocky” (CHF 3, for families with children from about age 6), a museum quiz to download for free and the podcast series “Theo erzählt” via QR code. All animals on open display may be touched; nature can be discovered with play and experiment models.

Getting there & parking

The dinosaur tracks near Lommiswil can only be reached on foot, e.g. from the “Im Holz” railway station (about a 14-minute train ride from Solothurn).

Amenities & dining

• Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi in the museum. School classes can have their morning snack (Znüni) and picnic on the forecourt.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Up to 40 guests.

The foyer can be rented outside opening hours for private events (conferences, meetings, lectures) for CHF 50 per hour (up to approx. 40 people, projector, screen and microphone system available). Public events with a nature connection are possible by arrangement with the museum director; on request the museum offers a simple aperitif for CHF 10 per person.

Plan your visit