Aarau, Medieval cantonal capital in northern Switzerland
Description
This cantonal capital in northern Switzerland sits at the southern foot of the Jura Mountains along the right bank of the Aare River at 384 meters (1,260 feet) elevation. The municipality serves as the administrative center of Aarau District and includes a protected old town with a church tower and several streets.
History
The counts of Kyburg founded the settlement in 1240 along the Aare and built a castle on the hill above the river. During the Helvetic Republic, the town served for several months in 1798 as the first capital of unified Switzerland before the government moved to Bern.
Culture
Painted gables decorate 16th-century houses that line narrow lanes, giving the center its recognizable appearance. The town church continues to hold services, and residents now move between old buildings and modern shops in daily life.
Practical
The railway station links the town to Zurich via S-Bahn line S11, and buses run throughout the municipal area. Visitors reach the old town on foot from the station within a few minutes and can explore the narrow lanes without special preparation.
Did you know?
The ruins of Habichtsburg stand on a hill northeast of town and mark the ancestral seat of the Habsburg dynasty, which later ruled large parts of Europe. The family name derives directly from this castle, which remains visible today as a stone ruin.
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide. Discover all places nearby (Aarau District).
Old Kantonsschule
664 m
Telli Housing Estate
1.4 km
Aargauer Kunsthaus
301 m
Schlössli Aarau
193 m
Aarau city church
143 m
Kettenbrücke Aarau
349 m
Old armoury
371 m
Upper Tower
88 m
KiFF
1.6 km
Wildpark Roggenhausen
2 km
Staatsarchiv Aargau
658 m
Aargau canton library
314 m
Naturama Aargau
539 m
Evangelical-reformed parish church
2.5 km
Affenkasten
181 m
City hall
119 m
Government Building
303 m
Tuchlaube
120 m
Krematorium Aarau
580 m
Zum Schlossgarten house
185 m
Column house
643 m
Dominikanerinnenkloster Aarau, Schweiz
172 m
Grand Council building
351 m
Obere Mühle
240 m
Fountain of Justice
119 m
Blumenhalde villa
693 m
Gönhard Schoolhouse
911 m
Herosé-Stift
773 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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