Live and work in the heart of SwitzerlandOlten, with its approximately 17,500 residents, is the largest city in the canton of Solothurn. Together with the communities of the Olten-Gösgen-Gäu area, it represents a considerable pillar of the canton's economic strength. Our motto: 'Live and work in the heart of Switzerland'.
The central location of the city of Olten in the heart of Switzerland is and will remain one of the most important advantages for the city and the region of Olten. About 80% of all Swiss inhabitants can reach the 'Three Pines City' (Dreitannenstadt) by train or car in under an hour. Connections to Basel and Zurich airports by both rail and road round out this offer. Hotels and conference centers have recognised this stategic advantage. In addition, city officials plan to more actively promote the status of the town as a conference city by enlarging the city theater to a seminar and culture center. Service and Education Center The move away from production industries such as iron and cement has been compensated for in the last few years by numerous new jobs in the services and in education. These are offered not only by firms such as SIS Sega Intersettle AG, Atel, and Swisscom, but also the regional agencies of all large banks and insurance institutes. To the educational area belong, for example, the Kanton School Hardwald, the Commercial School Olten-Balsthal, and the Trade and Industry School, as well as the training centers for the Post and the Swiss Railway. In addition to numerous private schools, the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland is located in Olten, offering business, social, technical, and optical studies. Besides employment and residential opportunities, Olten is a gastronomic center and a multifaceted sports and cultural city. Ice hockey and field hockey, to name just two of the countless sports run by clubs, have made the 'Three Pines City' known well beyond the cantonal borders, just as have our cabaret, jazz, and dance sessions. Big Plans for the Future 'We are building on our future', the motto of the government program of the Olten city council, will also continue beyond the current office period, as our intentions show. To name a few examples: the project Olten South West, where approximately 4,000 people should find a work and living area; the project Opportunity Inner City which comprises a traffic free inner city, the construction of the 'Museum Mile' and a parking garage; or the SFr. 280 M traffic project to ease traffic in the region of Olten which should break ground in 2008. These future oriented activities do not limit themselves to only 'building' alone. Great efforts have been made and will continue to be made, for example, to quiet traffic in residential areas, or regarding tax situations for holding companies, or the integration of foreign residents. And the communities are keen to be a part of Olten as an educational center. Computer instruction from kindergarten till the 10th grade, an umbrella organisation of all creches and childcare centers, and block school time for kindergartens and in the primary schools are just a few of the buzz words that need be mentioned. With the Region and For the Region We are also building on a regional mind-set which is not limited to cantonal borders. Thanks to the activities of the regional club Olten-Gösgen-Gaü, and the Platform Aargau Solothurn (Paso), in the past few years the city of Olten has been able to lay the basis for an 'over-the-border' cooperation called 'Arolfingen', the 7th largest agglomeration in Switzerland with over 200,000 residents and approximately 10,000 businesses. To add to the attractivity of the business and residential region Aarau-Olten-Zofingen, Olten is using its central location, its economic and financial strength, and its broad offer in the areas of education, culture, sport, leisure, seminar tourism, and gastronomy. Olten in Numbers
Contact address City Administration Olten (Stadtverwaltung Olten) Dornacherstrasse 1 4603 Olten Switzerland Tel. ++41 (0)62 206 13 27 Fax. ++41 (0)62 206 12 03 Email stadtkanzlei@stadt.olten.ch Opening hours
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