Switzerland has committed to providing shelter space for every one of its 8.6 million residents, with nearly nine million spots spread across hundreds of thousands of bunkers, both public and private.
As war returns to Europe’s doorstep, sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a shifting US presence abroad, countries across the continent are rethinking defense, not just on the battlefield but at home. Civilian protection is back in focus: Norway has revived Cold War-era shelter laws, Germany is debating bunker construction, and Switzerland, well, it never stopped building its bunkers!
In a world where uncertainty looms large, Switzerland’s vast network of nuclear bunkers stands as a concrete testament to a nation’s commitment to civilian safety. Click through this gallery to see how a country built for peace prepared for the worst.