When Olten Is More Than Just a Transit Station: A Hike to Sälischlössli Castle

Olten. A city that most people know mainly as a place where they transfer from one train to another. And cynics might add that, aside from that important train station, there’s actually nothing else to see here. For us, Olten has long since ceased to be just a transfer station. Hockey keeps bringing us back here, and I think I’ve come to know the town from a different perspective: its historic center with a pleasant atmosphere, the covered wooden bridge over the Aare River, and one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Switzerland. Plus, just a few minutes from the station, a hike begins where you’ll encounter wild animals, climb to a fairy-tale castle with a view, discover the ruins of a medieval castle, and finish with a stroll along the Aare River. After reading this article, you’ll definitely know what to do in Olten.

Start of the route – Olten Train Station

There’s nothing better than starting your trip right where you arrive, without having to travel anywhere else first. Trains arrive here from all corners of Switzerland, and the route begins right at the train station. And if you arrive by car, you can park right next to the station at Parkplatz Bahnhofplatz, but there are only 16 spaces there. If you’d like to park closer to the historic center, you can use the large parking lot Parkplatz Schützenmatt, Dünnern (Schützenmattweg 18, 4600 Olten).

Mühletäli Wildlife Park – the first stop that will delight children

As I mentioned, the route starts right at the train station, but if you head to the “back” of the station, you’ll come out onto Martin Disteli-Strasse and walk through a nice residential neighborhood. After about a 20-minute walk, you’ll arrive at the wildlife park. Small but very popular, Mühletäli Wildlife Park has been part of the local recreational area since 1951. In this small forest park, you can encounter fallow deer, sika deer, goats, raccoons, llamas, and alpacas. Information boards at each enclosure also provide children and adults with interesting facts about the different species.

But the highlight for the kids will definitely be feeding the animals. There’s a feeding machine in the park—all you need is a 1 CHF coin, and you can buy food specially designed for the park’s animals. And they’ll literally eat right out of your hand.

Säli-Schlössli – one of the most beautiful viewpoints overlooking Olten

From the park, continue on—cross the stream (where there is also a fire pit) and follow the gentle slope through the forest, staying along the stream. After crossing another bridge, a steeper climb awaits you. But you’ll be rewarded with views of Olten. In about half an hour (1.6 km), you’ll reach the Sälischlössli castle.

Today’s fairytale-like Sälischlössli was not originally built as a romantic castle. Its history dates back to the 13th century, when the Neu-Wartburg castle stood here, built by the lords of Ifenthal. Both castles—Neu-Wartburg and the nearby Alt-Wartburg—were burned down in 1415 during the conquest of Aargau by Bernese troops. While Alt-Wartburg remained in ruins, Neu-Wartburg was later restored and, between 1870 and 1871, rebuilt into the romantic structure we know today as Sälischlössli. Today, it houses a popular restaurant for day-trippers. If you’re lucky enough to visit on a clear day, the terrace offers a panoramic view stretching from the surrounding hills all the way to the Alpine peaks.

A Short Detour to the Alt-Wartburg Ruins

Just a few minutes’ walk from the Sälischlössli lies the Alt-Wartburg ruins. And although it’s overshadowed by its more famous neighbor, it’s definitely worth a short detour. The older of the two castles was likely built as early as the beginning of the 13th century. After its destruction in 1415, it was never rebuilt, and precisely because of this, you can today admire authentic remnants of medieval fortifications. Parts of the massive walls have survived, giving a sense of just how imposing the structure once was.

You then continue along the hiking trail toward Aarburg. Along the way, you’ll come across another picnic area, and a sign will inform you that you are in the Säliflue–Wartburg–Heideloch–Looweiher Nature Reserve. This nature reserve was established in 2014 and covers nearly 74 hectares. In nature reserves like this, the forest is allowed to develop naturally without conventional forest management—old and dead trees remain, creating valuable habitat for many plant, fungal, and animal species.

At the next signpost, you can choose whether to head toward the train station or continue on to the town of Aarburg.

Aarburg – a small town with a rich history

As you emerge from the forest, another landmark of the entire route comes into view – the imposing Aarburg Fortress, which towers high above the historic town of the same name. The fortress, whose history dates back to the 12th century, now serves as a cantonal juvenile detention center. Nevertheless, you can explore its grounds—from April to October, guided public tours are held here every Saturday at 2 p.m.

And it is right here that several points of interest await you. The first is Aarewoog, a unique natural phenomenon in which, thanks to the riverbed’s special shape and the Aare River’s flow, a strong whirlpool and a countercurrent form. This water phenomenon is one of a kind and has been protected since 1985 as part of the Swiss List of Valuable Landscapes.

The second attraction is Mozart’s Trail (Mozart-Weg). Few people know that during his grand European tour in 1766, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart traveled through Switzerland with his family, and his route also passed through Aarburg. Today, information boards in the town commemorate this historic journey.

Return along the Aare River back to Olten, or by train

This time, we decided to take the train back to Olten from Aarburg. I’ll admit that I didn’t want to burden the kids with another historical site—I’d already explored Aarburg during my spring visit (yes, our son played soccer in nearby Oftringen). If you’d like to extend the walk by about 5 kilometers, you can continue back to Olten along the Aare River.

Practical Information

The route from Olten to Aarburg is about 7 kilometers long.
The route is not suitable for strollers. However, it is easy, so even younger children can manage it.
There are several picnic spots along the route.
If the weather is nice, after your hike you can head to the local swimming pool in Olten, which also has a slide.