Aarburg

About

Though the fortress at Aarburg was first documented in 1123, the town itself likely wasn’t founded until the early 14th century. Because of its proximity to the cities of Olten and Zofingen, Aarburg remained a small settlement subsisting mainly on trade tariffs and riverboat traffic until the 17th century. In the 19th century, the construction of a textile factory and railway station, Aarburg became a prosperous industrial town, even erecting a new Neo-Gothic church in the 1840s. Today, the old town, jutting out into the Aare River on a rocky promontory offers visitors a quiet place to stroll and soak in the alpine charms. The iconic castle standing above the village is currently a school for delinquents, but offers public tours at 2:00 PM on Saturdays during the Spring and Summer.