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Switzerland has built one of the world’s most extensive civil defense networks, with more than 370,000 shelters designed to provide protection from nuclear fallout and other dangers during a major conflict. Together, the shelters are intended to provide space for essentially every person in the country, which has a population of around 9 million.
The network is the result of decades of planning that began during the Cold War, when Swiss authorities recognized that the country’s neutrality would not necessarily protect it from the effects of a nuclear conflict elsewhere in Europe. Radiation and fallout could cross national borders, prompting Switzerland to develop a nationwide shelter system.
Switzerland’s Federal Office for Civil Protection describes the program as a nationwide effort to build shelters that were robust, relatively simple and affordable to maintain. Construction and organizational planning remained central to Swiss civil defense throughout the Cold War.
Some facilities were built on an enormous scale. The Sonnenberg Bunker in Lucerne, constructed during the 1970s, was designed to accommodate as many as 20,000 people. That capacity represented roughly one-third of the city’s population at the time.
Most shelters are considerably smaller. Private shelters located beneath houses and apartment buildings can accommodate roughly five to 50 people, while larger public facilities beneath schools and government buildings can hold hundreds.
The shelters are generally constructed from reinforced concrete and equipped with blast-resistant doors, ventilation systems and emergency escape routes. Larger facilities can also feature airlocks designed to limit contaminated outside air from entering.
Switzerland continued expanding its shelter network even after the Cold War ended. A policy commonly described as “a shelter for every inhabitant” has helped maintain enough capacity for the country’s population, although coverage varies between regions.
There have been periodic discussions about scaling back the program, including around 2010 and 2011. However, concerns following the Fukushima nuclear disaster contributed to Switzerland maintaining its approach. Developers are generally required to construct protective shelter capacity or contribute financially toward communal facilities.
More recently, Switzerland has again emphasized the importance of its civil defense infrastructure amid deteriorating international security. The government has committed to replacing aging shelters and equipment while strengthening funding and construction requirements.
The country’s vast network may never have to serve its original purpose. For now, some former or private shelters have found more peaceful uses, including storage spaces, wine cellars and even saunas.
