Kriegstetten is the district capital of Wasseramt in the canton of Solothurn. Church architecture, historic houses and carnival offer insights into the village’s history; the Urzeitenweg broadens the perspective to include regional routes and destinations. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between the local cultural landmarks and the topics that concern the wider Wasseramt district.
Churches from Different Periods
The present-day Catholic church was built between 1842 and 1843, replacing an older church that had been built around 500 years earlier. It is dedicated to Saint Mauritius. As of November 30, 2018, the parish church of St. Mauritius in Kriegstetten is listed in the cantonal register of protected sites maintained by Solothurn’s heritage conservation office. The new building for the Reformed parish was completed in 1963 and inaugurated in 1964—around 120 years after the present-day Catholic church was built.
In the Reformed Church, the different rooms are brought together as a whole in the shape of a shell or spiral. Its furnishings include an organ built by the Kuhn company and inaugurated in 1970, and a baptismal font dating from 1991. The font was created as part of a confirmation class elective course on the theme “Light and the Water of Life.” Alongside their different construction dates, the layout and individual works of art offer their own ways of exploring church architecture.
Houses and Historic Places of Remembrance
The oldest house in Kriegstetten is the old blacksmith’s shop from 1605, now known as Misteli House. The former Quellental spa also belongs to the village’s history: permission to establish a bathing facility was granted in 1831. Jeremias Gotthelf immortalized the Quellental spa in his novel “Anne Bäbi Jowäger.”
The history of the inns reflects different periods. The Gasthof Sternen was built in 1790 and burned down in August 1847. The Gasthof zum Kreuz was built by Pisoni in 1774. At the Recherswil-Obergerlafingen road junction, a cross marks the former site of a chapel dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Misteli House, the two inns and the former chapel site each reflect different aspects of the village’s history, but they do not all date from the same period.
Carnival with an Early Start and a Sunday Parade
A recurring feature of the carnival program is the Chesslete on Shrove Thursday. Residents of Kriegstetten, Halten and Oekingen parade through the village wearing white shirts and pointed caps, red scarves, and carrying torches and noise-making instruments. Beforehand, three large firecrackers go off at 05:03. The carnival parade starts at 13:31 on Sunday. The guild leads it with its Ober and scepter; around 20 themed groups take part, with or without parade floats and sound systems, alongside Guggenmusik bands from the region.
The Chesslete and the parade differ in their timing and format. Dates, participation and route may vary. If you would like to plan your stay around a particular edition, check the date and program in advance.
The Urzeitenweg and Regional Destinations
The Urzeitenweg is a cycling tour of around 35 kilometers that runs mostly along side roads and farm tracks through a total of 13 municipalities in the Wasseramt district. One hike followed the Urzeitenweg from the village square in Kriegstetten to Lake Burgäschi and on to Aeschi. The distance given refers to the cycling tour; the hiking route described is a separate way to explore part of the region.
Lake Burgäschi and Lake Inkwil are the only two lakes in the canton of Solothurn; both are in the Wasseramt district. Another regional cultural landmark is the tower in Halten: it dates from the 13th century and houses a local history museum with a permanent exhibition and changing themed exhibitions. These places broaden the perspective beyond Kriegstetten, but are not part of its local architectural history.
Discover more destinations: Bolken, Hersiwil, Steinhof, Luterbach, Aeschi, Biberist, Horriwil, Zuchwil
For the broader travel overview: Wasseramt.
