Weissenstein, Mountain peak in Solothurn, Switzerland

Weissenstein is a mountain peak in the Jura range, close to Solothurn in northwestern Switzerland, sitting at 1,395 meters (about 4,580 feet). It stands at the southern edge of the Jura chain and offers a wide view toward the Swiss Plateau and the Alps beyond.

The mountain was used for alpine farming and timber until the late 18th century, when visitors began arriving for the view. The Zurich cartographer Heinrich Keller published a panorama from Weissenstein in 1818, and cantonal physician Johann Karl Kottmann introduced whey cures there. The Kurhaus was built in 1826/27 and enlarged between 1862 and 1876. A chairlift ran from Oberdorf from 1950 until 2009; the gondola lift opened on 20 December 2014.

The name Weissenstein means "white stone", after the pale limestone of the Jura ridge. Since 1947 the mountain has hosted the Weissenstein-Schwinget, a wrestling and stone-throwing festival held on a Saturday in July or August; since 2000 it has been one of the six Bergkranzfeste of Swiss wrestling. Competitors also throw the 66 kg Weissenstein-Stein.

The easiest way to reach the summit is by gondola from Oberdorf station, which runs regularly. Hikers can also reach the top on foot using several marked trails that start from the villages below.

The road that winds up the southern slope reaches gradients of up to 22 percent, placing it among Switzerland's steepest paved driving routes. This makes the ascent by car a notable experience even before arriving at the top.