AARAU, the capital of the Swiss canton of Aargau. Pop. (1930), 11,666, mostly German-speaking Protestants. It is on the right bank of the Aar at the southern foot of the Jura, about 5om. by rail north-east of Berne, and 31m. north-west of Zurich. An ancient fortress, it was taken by the Bernese in 1415, and in 1798 became for a time the capital of the Helvetic republic.
Eight miles by rail north-east are the famous sulphur baths of Schinznach, near which is the ruined castle of Habsburg, the original home of that house. The industrial museum contains good painted glass of the 16th century, from the neighbouring Benedictine monastery of Muri (founded 1027, suppressed 1841 —the monks are now quartered at Gries, near Bolzano). The cantonal library contains many works relating to Swiss history and many mss. coming from the suppressed Argovian monas teries. The industries include silk-ribbon weaving, foundries, cut lery, electrotechnical products and scientific instruments. The novelist and historian, Heinrich Zschokke (1771-1848), spent most of his life here, and a bronze statue has been erected to his memory. Aarau is an important military centre.