Thursday, 20.05.2004 - Lostorf, Solothurn

According to the book "Die Römer in der Schweiz" (The Roman in Switzerland) I have following information about the "Gross Chastel" northwest of Lostorf:

At this place were found brick fragments, roman fittings of bronze and 35 coins. One coin comes from the time of Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus (AD 180 - 192). The remaining coins are from the time between Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus (Gordian I, AD 238) and Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus (AD 286 - 305). It is supposed that this place served in the late 3rd century as a place of refuge.

At the coordinates 637 025/249 525 is drawn in on the map 1 : 25 000 (Hauenstein) a Roman observatory. Some signposts also indicate this destination. On site no information is however available. Rock formations at these coordinates can be artificial, however just as well natural. The same one is valid for the stone ramparts on the plateau to the west from that.

Today it is due to the forestation difficult to judge the view. It seems however to have been a wide viewpoint.