Aarau, Switzerland

Stadtkirche, Aarau, Switzerland
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aarau-stadtkirche.JPG
Author: Taurus65


Aarau is a city on the River Aare, in the German-speaking part of northern Switzerland. It covers 12.34 sq km (4.76 sq mi) and has a population of about 20,000 people (2011 estimate). It is the second largest city in Aargau canton after Wettingen.

Oberer Turm, Aarau
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aarau_Oberer_Turm.jpg
Author: Voyager


The city of Aarau sits on a steep rocky terrace of the Aare valley below the Jura mountains. The area has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. During Roman times, a wooden bridge was built across the river Aare. Remains of that bridge was discovered by divers in 1976.

The modern city of Aarau was founded by the Counts of Kyburg in 1240. The earliest written mention of the city appears in 1248, when it was described as Arowe. It was part of Habsburg territory until 1415, when it passed into Bernese control.

Most of the inhabitants of Aarau speak German (81.7%). This represents a drop from 1880s, when the German-speaking population ranked at 99.2%. Close to half the population are Protestants of the Swiss Reformed Church (49.7%) while Roman Catholics form 33% of the people.

Visiting Aarau

You can reach Aarau by train from Zürich and Basel within 30 minutes, and from Bern in 40 minutes. The airports in Zürich, Basel and Geneva also has direct rail links to Aarau.

Sights & Attractions in Aarau

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