Parktheater Grenchen

Parktheater Grenchen is a theatre building in Grenchen, a town in the canton of Solothurn, Switzerland. Opened in 1955, it is regarded as one of the region's most distinctive pieces of postwar architecture and remains an important cultural venue for the town.

What is Parktheater Grenchen?

It is a theatre with a large auditorium and a restaurant, set in a town best known for its watchmaking industry. The building hosts performances, concerts and events, and its hall can also be rented for private functions. It stands at roughly 47.191° N, 7.391° E.

Who designed it and when was it built?

The architect was Ernst Gisel of Zurich. Construction ran from 1953 to 1955. At the opening, Gisel reportedly said there was no other building in Switzerland quite like it, which captures how new the design felt next to its surroundings.

The interior is known for its wooden chairs, which were restored in five phases over the years, preserving the original character of the hall.

Why does the building matter to the town?

In 2009 the Parktheater was listed as a historic and cultural monument. The town of Grenchen also names it among the architectural highlights behind its 2008 Wakkerpreis, the award given by the Swiss Heritage Society (Heimatschutz). For anyone interested in modernist architecture, it is one of the best reasons to stop in Grenchen.

Restaurant and ownership

The restaurant area was rebuilt in 1995. In 2014/15 Rodania Gastro AG took over its operation and renovated it. For years the building belonged to the Parktheater cooperative, which lacked the funds for upkeep. Local press reported plans for the town to buy the building and dissolve the cooperative.

How many seats does the hall have?

Sources give different figures, from a few hundred seats in theatre layouts to around 600 or 700 chairs in full configuration. The number depends on the room setup and use, so for group bookings it is worth asking about the current layout.

Planning a visit

• Check the programme on the Grenchen town website or the operator's page, since the schedule changes through the season.
• You can eat in the restaurant inside the building before or after a show.
• Grenchen lies close to Solothurn and Biel/Bienne, so the theatre combines well with exploring the area.
• Architecture fans should take a look at the building's form and the wooden-seat interior.

Frequently asked questions

When did Parktheater Grenchen open? In 1955, after construction that began in 1953.

Who designed it? Ernst Gisel of Zurich.

Is the building protected? Yes, it has been listed as a historic and cultural monument since 2009.

Is there a restaurant? Yes. Since 2014/15 it has been run by Rodania Gastro AG.

Where is Grenchen? In the canton of Solothurn, on the Swiss Plateau between Solothurn and Biel/Bienne.

The Parktheater suits visitors who want to combine a cultural evening with a look at twentieth-century Swiss architecture. Its protected status and its link to the Wakkerpreis make it one of Grenchen's landmarks.