Weissenstein

Old town of Solothurn against the backdrop of white stone, March 2005

The white stone is up to 1,395 m high ridge of the Jura mountains, north of the town of Solothurn.

Until November 2009, the chairlift Oberdorf- white stone led with a length of 2,339 meters in two sections of Oberndorf to the Kurhaus ( 1,287 m above sea level. M. ). The tunnel of the railway line Solothurn- Moutier from Oberndorf to Gänsbrunnen on the other side of the white stone was opened in 1908 and is 3701 m long. The chairlift crossed the railway line in the Solothurn -Münster -Bahn (now part of BLS AG) immediately before the tunnel portal; while it was the only such situation on a standard gauge railway line in Switzerland.

The highest elevation of the white stone is the Röti with 1'395 m. The pass road from Oberndorf on the white stone Pass ( 1,279 m above sea level. M. ) to Gänsbrunnen is with gradients up to 22 % one of the steepest in Switzerland. She stays in the winter closed to private traffic and then serves as a nationally popular toboggan run.

About 2 km west of the Kurhaus is located near the rear and white stone ( 1,226 m above sea level. M. ) the Nidlenloch, an extensive cave system ( 7.5 km with 418 m altitude), which can be done relatively safely partially.

Directly at the Kurhaus, a botanical garden with site - typical plants and the Winter Sports Museum will be visited free of charge. In addition to the spa are the " three brightest Solothurn ", three powerful lights that shine into the valley and are easily visible at night from a distance. Below the Kurhaus to the Holy Brother Klaus consecrated mountain chapel was built in 1984. Via Balmberg and Grenchenberg is the white stone tapped daily with buses, a bus also runs on weekends during the summer months from Oberndorf. From the Kurhaus a hiking trail on the Planet Weissensteinstrasse runs along via Hasenmatt to Grenchenberg or to Balmberg.

Since 1994 takes place on the white stone place every year the week-long World Music Festival Uhuru World Music Festival.

History

A bumpy mountain path on the white stone is first mentioned in 1465. At the Stiegenlos the year number 1644 is carved. Also since the 17th century healing whey cures were offered on the white stone. The main building of today's spa house was built 1826/27.

The chairlift took in 1950 on the operation and was taken out of service in November 2009. It was considered the only remaining of its kind in Switzerland. A new cable car is to begin operation in the fall of 2014.