Trimbach: Churches, History and Railway Learning Trail

Trimbach is a municipality in the canton of Solothurn and the district of Gösgen. North of Olten, it lies at the southern foot of the Jura, on the left bank of the Aare. The municipal area extends through the side valley of the Dorfbach to the starting point of the Lower Hauenstein Pass road; wooded Jura slopes meet open areas here. You can choose from several focal points when planning your trip: the architectural history of the churches, a railway learning trail about 800 metres long, and walking and hiking paths along the Dorfbach and on the slopes.

Churches and Chapels in Trimbach

The cantonal register lists the parish church of St. Mauritius at Baslerstrasse 126 as a protected site; the entry is dated 31 October 2019. The church acquired its present form, with a cruciform floor plan, when it was rebuilt between 1774 and 1776. It was remodelled in 1942. A foundation by the Frohburg family is considered the probable origin of the church. St. Mauritius therefore brings together both an early historical interpretation and several clearly dated construction phases.

The Trinity Chapel dates from the 15th century. Its distinctive little tower has a pointed onion dome; historically, the chapel served as a wayside chapel. St. John’s Church was ceremonially consecrated on 21 October 1951. Since then, it has served as a meeting place for young and old and also hosts ecumenical events. The three religious sites offer different points of reference in time: from the 15th-century chapel, through the new construction and remodelling of St. Mauritius, to the consecration of St. John’s Church in 1951.

Local History and Landscape

Trimbach was first mentioned in a document in 1244 under the name “Trinbach”. The area later belonged to the counts of Frohburg, the counts of Nidau, the counts of Thierstein and the counts of Falkenstein, before the city of Solothurn acquired it in 1458. This sequence reflects several successive periods of rule and a clearly dated change in 1458. Transport also shaped the town’s development: with the construction of the first Hauenstein Tunnel in 1858 and the subsequent industrialisation, Trimbach grew rapidly.

If you would like to focus more on the landscape during your stay, you’ll find walking and hiking paths along the Dorfbach and through the wooded Jura slopes. Viewpoints such as Engelberg offer vistas of the landscape. The stream, wooded slopes and open areas each provide different landmarks for finding your way around the area.

Froburg Ruins and Railway Learning Trail

The Froburg ruins were the ancestral castle of the counts of Frohburg. The first fortifications were built around 1050. This date anchors the site’s early building history; its role as an ancestral castle also links it to a specific noble family. To get there, take bus 506 from Olten railway station towards Wisen and get off at the Hauenstein stop. From there, it is about a 20- to 30-minute walk. Check the current timetable before travelling.

The Trimbach Railway Learning Trail starts at the Trimbach stop and ends after about 800 metres at the footbridge above the Trimbach municipal building and Mühlematt schoolhouse. Along the old Olten–Basel railway line and today’s Läufelfingerli, ten illustrated information panels tell the story of transport from the post coach to the railway, the construction of the Trimbach–Läufelfingen railway tunnel and the 1857 tunnel disaster. The topics range from an earlier form of transport to specific events in railway history.

The Railway Learning Trail can be reached by S9 train from Sissach or Olten. Together with the approximate length of 800 metres, this gives you a separate set of details to help plan your visit; for the journey to the Froburg ruins, the walking time from the Hauenstein stop is the relevant consideration. Check the current timetable for the train connection before travelling, too.

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