Grenchen is in the Lebern district of the canton of Solothurn and combines a long history of watchmaking with art, protected landscapes and a wide range of activities. When planning an overnight stay, you can choose what to focus on: the town’s history, art or outdoor activities.
Watchmaking and the town’s history
Grenchen is one of the centres of the Swiss watchmaking industry, which has been established in the town for more than 150 years. Industrial watch production began in 1851 with pioneers Josef Girard and Urs Schild. The comprehensive exhibition at the Kultur-Historisches Museum Grenchen explores industrialisation and its consequences through the example of the region. It is divided into six thematic areas and focuses on how people lived and worked in industry, as well as its impact on everyday life. The main period covered is the 1950s, the “golden age” of Grenchen’s watchmaking industry.
Other historical landmarks date back much further: around the year 1000, local barons built a castle on a rocky outcrop, which was inhabited for three centuries. Grenchen received the Wakker Prize in 2008 for its architectural heritage. The town’s transport history is also worth noting: it gained its first railway connection in 1857, when the Swiss Central Railway’s Biel–Solothurn line opened via Grenchen Süd station.
Experience art and culture
The Kunsthaus Grenchen houses around 17,000 works, mostly prints. Its collection spans regional, Swiss and international art from the 16th century to the present day. In workshops, participants can try out various printmaking techniques and create their own works using printing plates they have made themselves. As dates and availability may change, it is advisable to check the workshop programme in advance.
Guided tours also offer a range of different perspectives. Guided town tours are offered throughout the year; check their availability before your trip. The 90-minute “Technology Town in the Green” tour explores the watchmaking industry and industrialisation. The “Watchmaking World Grenchen” tours combine a visit to the Grenchen watch company Fortis Watches AG with insights into watchmaking traditions at the museum and around the town; bookings are available on request.
The historic Parktheater offers a varied cultural programme, from theatre to music extravaganzas. Alongside industrial history, visitors can therefore choose to focus on visual art or the performing arts during their stay.
The Witi, cycling tours and activities
The Grenchen Witi preserves open farmland and promotes nature-friendly farming while ensuring that farmers can maintain their livelihoods. At the same time, the area protects habitats for animals and plants, including a bird-breeding site and a hare refuge of national importance. Part of the Witi is designated a waterbird and migratory bird reserve of national importance. The area therefore places both landscape conservation and agricultural use at its heart.
Cyclists can choose between two tours with different routes. “Grenchen Bike” is a mountain biking tour through the forests of Grenchen, starting and finishing at Chappeli. The varied Solothurn–Grenchen cycling tour, by contrast, runs from Solothurn through Grenchen and back to Solothurn. One tour starts and ends in Grenchen, while the other passes through the town on a circular route from Solothurn. Route conditions may change for both; for “Grenchen Bike”, the season and weather also play a role.
Another way to get active is the approximately 8,000-square-metre BMX and pump track facility. It is open to the public daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; operating conditions may change, so check before your visit. The Tissot Velodrome is a ten-minute walk from Grenchen SĂĽd station. Directions and connections may change, so it is worth checking the latest information.
Airport Grenchen offers informative airport tours for visitor groups. Introductory flights are also available, and sightseeing flights can be booked. The Grenchen outdoor swimming pool is generally open from mid-May to mid-September. Check the seasonal dates before your trip. The ten-metre diving platform may only be used with permission and in the presence of supervisory staff.
Discover more destinations: Staad, Sankt Niklaus, RĂĽttenen, Riedholz, Balm Bei GĂĽnsberg, Niederwil, Bettlach, Langendorf.
Back to the regional travel overview: Lebern.
