Rock faces, paths beside the stream and a historic Stations of the Cross trail characterise Rüttenen. The municipality offers a range of options for a stay, from Verena Gorge and the Hermitage of St. Verena to landscape parks and protected natural areas. When planning, it is worth checking the routes and access information separately.

Landscape between the southern Jura foothills and Verena Gorge

Rüttenen is in the Lebern district of the Canton of Solothurn, at an altitude of 516 metres and about 2.5 kilometres north of Solothurn as the crow flies. The municipality lies at the foot of the southern Jura and the Weissenstein, in a widening of the Verenabach valley before the stream enters Verena Gorge. South of Rüttenen, the stream cuts through the Verenakette; the municipal area also includes part of the southern Jura slope. To the north, the terrain extends past Oberrüttenen and the steep slope of the Vorberg, dotted with numerous rocks, up to the Balmfluhchöpfli and the Röti. At 1,395 metres above sea level, the Röti is the highest point in the municipality.

Verena Gorge is a wooded nature reserve with Jurassic limestone rock faces that are in places almost vertical and in others overhanging. A path runs alongside the stream. The Hermitage of St. Verena, which politically belongs to the municipality of Rüttenen, is at the upper entrance to the gorge. The gorge and hermitage are places of peace, reflection and spirituality in a cantonal nature reserve.

Trails and visit planning

Bus route 4 runs from Solothurn main station to the St. Niklaus stop at the southern entrance to the gorge. From there, it is a 15-minute walk to the hermitage. A well-maintained, two-kilometre-long path also follows the Verenabach to the Hermitage of St. Verena. Check the timetable before travelling. Visitors arriving by car or coach are directed to the car parks by the Kreuzen restaurant. There is no public parking for cars or coaches at the southern entrance to Verena Gorge or by St. Niklaus Church.

Also note the specific advisory for the Vorberg: According to a municipal notice dated 26 August 2026, the hiking trail there is closed indefinitely due to a rockfall. For safety reasons, the municipality asks visitors to choose another route. Check the advisory again before your hike; it applies to the trail on the Vorberg.

The Solothurn Megalith Trail leads to 13 natural and cultural monuments and ends by passing through Verena Gorge. White direction signs, route stickers, white diamonds and arrows mark the trail. You can divide the hike into two circular routes: one covering stops 1 to 8 and the other stops 9 to 13. The Way of the Cross, dating from 1613, runs from St. Niklaus via Kreuzen to the hermitage and has 14 stations. At the Calvary in Kreuzen, three crucifixes depict the Crucifixion of Jesus; Kreuzen Chapel is also one of the historic cultural sites and contains a replica of Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre Chapel.

Chapels and more to discover

The Verena Chapel stands on a limestone cliff in the hermitage and is recognised as a protected site at both cantonal and national level. After fire damage, it was restored and reopened in September 2020. Check current access information on site. St. Martin’s Chapel is not generally open to the public; public services are held there once a month throughout the year. Before visiting, check the current service schedule.

Wengistein Forest Park is also located in the municipality of Rüttenen. Its history dates back to the erection of the Wengistein monument in 1813; around 1900, the park was expanded into a spacious landscaped area. It has a landscape-park fence at the Känzeli, a playground and two barbecue areas. Martinsflueh is a viewpoint overlooking the municipality and the Jura protected zone; features mentioned there include a glacial erratic and a hiking trail over Martinsflueh to Verena Gorge.

The Zettergrube focuses on the conservation and promotion of the midwife toad and other amphibians. At the same time, the nature reserve serves as a local recreation area with a barbecue spot. In Rüttenen, nature-related attractions and practical opportunities for a stay come together, though not all destinations have the same character: the gorge, chapels, marked trails and parks each offer their own reasons to visit, which you can take into account when choosing your excursions.

Discover more destinations: Langendorf, Riedholz, Sankt Niklaus, Bettlach, Grenchen, Balm Bei Günsberg, Niederwil.

Return to the main travel overview: Lebern.