SOLOTHURN, or SOLEURE, a canton of Switzerland, is bounded N. by Basle, E. by Aargau, S. by Bern, and W. partly by Bern and partly by France. Its area is about 251 square miles, and the popu lation at the census of 1351 amounted to 69,674, of whom 61,556 were Catholics, 21 Jews, and 8097 Protestants of different sects. The canton is crossed in the direction from south-west to north-east by the Jura, which forms several parallel ridges, and covers the greater part of the canton. The principal valley is that of the Aar, which runs in the same direction, dowiog eastward of the Jura. The highest summits of the Jars in the canton of Soleura are the Weissenstein and the IIssenmett; the latter is about 4400 feet above the sea. The canton of Soleure is one of the most productive in Switzerland, especially in corn, fruit, and vegetables. The vine thrives only in certain localities. The mulberry-tree is cultivated, and some silk is made. Horned cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs are numerous; the number of horses is about 5000. The horse-fair of Soleure is one of the principal io Switzerland. A considerable quantity of cheese is made, both of cows'-milk and and part of it is exported. Part of the mountains are covered with timber-trees, especially fir and beech. The canton abounds in iron-mines, and the ore is smelted in the furnaces of St. Joseph, and worked at the iron-works of Kies. The other mauufac tures consist of leather, paper, woollens, and kirschwasser. There are also quarries of marble and gypsum.
A dialect of the Swiss-German is the language of the country. Most families are possessed of landed property. Every commune has an elementary school, and a normal school is established at Soleure.
Moat of the communes have a fund for the relief of their own poor.
The constitution of Soleure was for a long time aristocratical, but in 1831 a constitution was framed on a more popular system. The canton is divided into 10 electoral circles, each having its electoral college, which names a certain proportion of members to the Great Council, or legislature. The town of Soleure returns 34 out of the 109 members who compose the Great CounciL A Little Council, chosen from among the members of the Great Council, constitutes the executive. The members of the Great Council are renewed every six years. Soleure returns three members to the National Council, or central representative chamber of Switzerland.
Soleure, or the chief town of the canton, and a bishop's see, is built on the Am:, 1320 feet above the sea, and is surrounded by walla. The population is 5370. The cathedral is reckoned the finest church in Switzerland; the tower is 190 feet high. The other remark able buildings of Soleure are—the town-house, which is very old ; the arsenal, the theatre, the hospital, the fountain in the market-place, the former church of the Jesuits, and several convents. Soleure has a gymnasium with six professors and a good library, a lyceum with three professors, and a faculty of theology divided into three classes. The town library has about 20,000 volumes and some valuable manu scripts. Soleure is 19 miles N. from Bern, and 26 miles S. from Basle.
Men, on the left bank of the Aar, about 20 miles N.E. from Soleure, is a small place, with above 1500 inhabitants.