Fourteen Stations of the Cross form the Way of the Cross in Kappel. It leads from Mittelgäustrasse to the weather cross beside the chapel on the Born. Kappel lies in the Untergäu at 425 metres above sea level, between the southern foothills of the Jura and the Born. The Born, at 719 metres high, is part of the Jura foothills; the municipality’s landmark chapel, built in 1866, stands on it.
Trails, the Born and views
The weather cross dates from 1716 and was erected to provide protection from rain, hail and thunderstorms. The Born Chapel initially served as a pilgrimage chapel and, during the First World War, as a guard post. The Born Cross, in turn, became a popular place of pilgrimage. These places tell different chapters of Kappel’s religious history.
The trails also offer different experiences. The Bänkliweg is a short circular walk with plenty of benches for stopping and resting. The Way of the Cross, by contrast, focuses on its 14 stations and the weather cross as its destination. Those seeking a viewpoint can enjoy views across the Mittelland and of the Alpine panorama from Bornchänzeli.
Landscape and special places
The stretch of the Mittelgäubach from the village of Kappel to Huppergrub shows what the Gäu landscape once looked like. The area along the stream provides habitat for birds and small animals. Another natural feature is Chessiloch, an 81-metre-long cave system. At Heideloch, visitors can crawl through a narrow opening or climb over it using permanently installed iron grips.
Winter also brings a special feature to the trails: a sledging route passes by the TelefonhĂĽĂĽsli. The Schanze area, in turn, combines local history with present-day use. The Schanze is a surviving remnant of the Hauenstein fortifications and is now a popular barbecue and play area. A permit is required to drive to the Schanze car park.
Building history and village life
Kappel’s church was built in 1687. The former altarpiece was by Olten artist and liberal political caricaturist Martin Distel (1802–1844). The building that houses the Landgasthof Kreuz also has a long history: it was built in 1651 in the late Gothic style. The quarry supplied building materials used, among other things, to build Kappel’s Catholic church.
Another chapter in the village’s history can be seen in the Unterdorf: since the village fire of 1904, the so-called Allemannen houses have existed only there in Kappel. The farmer from the Studer farm, who was also a poet, chronicler and painter, is another part of local cultural history. Some of the lyrics of the Born song were also written by this poet.
A bus service connects Kappel with Olten every half hour. The neighbouring municipality of Hägendorf also has a Swiss Federal Railways station. Check the timetable for your travel date. Every year, the village associations organise the Dorfchilbi on the first weekend of September, with many attractions. A motorcycle blessing is held annually at the Born Chapel. If you would like to plan your visit around one of these events, check the exact dates in advance.
Discover more destinations: Hägendorf, Gretzenbach, Schönenwerd, Olten.
Back to the higher-level travel overview: Olten.
