Aarau (Swiss Standard German: [ˈaːraʊ], Alemannic German pronunciation: [ˈɑːræu̯]) is a town, a municipality, and the capital of the northern Swiss canton of Aargau . The town is also the capital of the district of Aarau. It is German-speaking and predominantly Protestant. Aarau is situated on the Swiss plateau, in the valley of the Aare , on the river's right bank, and at the southern foot of the Jura Mountains, and is west of Zurich, 58 kilometres (36 miles) south of Basel and 65 kilometres (40 miles) northeast of Bern . The municipality borders directly on the Canton of Solothurn to the west. It is the largest town in Aargau.