The rivers Aare and Rhine both flow through Solothurn, one of the North-Western Swiss cantons. It is officially German-speaking and consists of a population of 269 400 residents, 43% catholics and 30% protestants. With having 341 residents per square kilometer it is quite densely populated for a Swiss canton. 

Being founded as Roman colony by imperator Tiberius under the name of Salodurum, Solothurn became member of the military alliance of the Swiss confederation in 1418. 

One of the four Swiss nuclear power plants is located in Solothurn, the Gösgen power plant. This plant belongs to the municipality of Däniken and reaches 10% of the country's electric power production. 

Soluthurn is not only known for its carnival, but also for the Solothurn Film Festival, one of the most visited events in Switzerland, where national film productions are screened.