Subject: Solothurn Day Trip
Ziners,

We took a day trip to Solothurn on Saturday 19th March.

We took lunch at the Hotel Krone http://www.hotelkrone-solothurn.ch which was a good luncheon, but somewhat overpriced. I had stayed in the Hotel Krone in 2002, the upper rooms of which have views of the Cathederal, and had a good experience of the hotel from that stay. From parts of the restaurant, on the ground level, some of the tables also have views of the beautiful Baroque cathederal. I think they have changed the menu since the 2002 visit but the food remains of a high standard (with a price tag to match.) I have to admit that I was disappointed that they have changed the Fig desert with Orange and wine sauce to Figs with Port Cream sauce and Pistachio Ice Cream as the former was far superior.

Solothurn has a reuptation as the finest example of Baroque architecture in Switzerland. In many ways, this claim can be justified especially given the very splendide Cathederal which is dedicated to the Patron Saints of Solothurn Ursus and Victor who were martyred for refusing to worship Roman Gods.

Much of the Baroque architecture is Solothurn was initiated by the French ambassadors to Switzerland who were stationed here for 250 years as it remained a Catholic Canton through the reforomation. Interesting to note, therefore, that the Cathederal is more in the Italianite style of Baroque rather than the French style of Baroque of the same period. Some more research in this area might well be in order.

The Solothurn City Tourism website can be found at http://www.solothurn-city.ch

The Kanton Solothurn Tourims website can be found at http://www.mysolothurn.com

Mark Sukhija, in Zuerich