Invoking the „changing global security situation,” Switzerland, a country renowned for its neutrality, is undergoing a major renovation of its civilian shelters.
Somewhere in Zurich, hidden beneath the charming cobblestone streets and medieval buildings of the old town, there is a place that amazes all who arrive there.
At first glance, Urania, an underground space spanning seven stories, is a parking lot. But, in fact, it is more than that: it is also a modern military fortress hidden in plain sight.
The underground parking is one of the largest public shelters in Switzerland and could accommodate 11,000 people in case of emergency, equipped with drinking water, emergency power generators, gas filters, and a command system, as reported by The Washington Post.
What it means for the Swiss to always be prepared
Being prepared is a kind of national sport in Switzerland, where military service or civil defense duties are mandatory. Here are some telling facts in this regard:
- Switzerland has a network of around 370,000 personal shelters that provide a designated place in secret for each of its nearly 9 million inhabitants. Separate spaces are allocated for civil defense forces and the army.
- Switzerland is currently spending hundreds of millions to modernize its vast network of personal shelters and civil protection centers, considering "the changing global security situation."
- In 2026, a new ordinance on civil protection will come into force, providing for the modernization of 200 larger bunkers at a total cost of $276 million over 15 years.
- The fee that real estate developers must pay local authorities for funding public shelters will also increase, from about $1,000 to over $1,700 per person.
- The regional authorities of Switzerland are working on upgrading the bunkers in all cantons to modernize the aging ventilation and filtration systems reaching the end of their 40-year lifespan. There is a $1.2 billion fund for this, available over the next 15 years, and the timeframe can be shortened if necessary, a Swiss government spokesperson stated.
- The military is seeking proposals on how existing military fortifications could be modernized and transformed into "hard-to-attack defense nodes," inviting companies and startups to present their ideas this month.
Bunkers are part of Switzerland's "DNA"
The renovation of bunkers comes against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, which has ushered in a new era of challenging militarization in Europe.
Countries like Denmark, Sweden, Finland, France, and the United Kingdom have revised their recruitment rules, increased defense spending, tested emergency alert systems, modernized public information campaigns, and urged citizens to stockpile provisions.
Although Switzerland has maintained its political neutrality for centuries, the right to a personal shelter is enshrined in the Federal Law on Civil Protection, introduced in 1963.
Silvia Berger Ziauddin, a professor of Swiss and contemporary history at the University of Bern, told the American daily that the mentality of having bunkers is part of Switzerland's "national DNA," evolving from the defensive strategy of the late 1800s of the National Redoubt - when bunkers were built in mountains for protection against foreign invaders - to the nuclear threats of the Cold War. A combination of political will and external factors has helped the network flourish, she explained.
In the following years, many larger bunkers were sold by the military, some being transformed into museums, mushroom farms, or storage places for perfectly matured cheese.
The obligation to build personal shelters was nearly eliminated in 2011 but received a new impetus after the Fukushima earthquake in Japan and the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
Now, authorities are developing the existing network for a "multi-crisis" situation, a scenario where multiple threats arise simultaneously, said Berger Ziauddin, as well as for a "renewed focus on war scenarios."
Switzerland learns from others
Swiss authorities are analyzing what other countries are doing and taking notes from places like Ukraine, Finland, and Israel, said Jordi. "We need to define: what are we protecting against?"
At an estimated cost of $1,800 per person over a period of 60 years, shelters offer "good insurance. It's a huge infrastructure, but ultimately cheaper than any other measures you could take to protect your population," said Daniel Jordi, head of Civil Protection.
According to the Swiss government, of the 370,000 bunkers in Switzerland, many are in apartment blocks, and another 1,700 facilities are designated for command posts and field hospitals.
These can be used occasionally for storage but are built according to strict specifications:
- The outer shell is made of reinforced concrete, with blast-proof doors, ventilation systems, emergency exits, and locks designed to withstand nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons.
- Although they vary in size, they must have a surface area of at least one square meter and a volume of 2.5 cubic meters per occupant.
- For every 30 occupants, a dry toilet is required - although some bunkers are equipped with flush toilets and showers.
The location of the bunkers remains a well-guarded secret. In case of emergency, the government will order "pre-allocation" of spaces, and local authorities will have to activate the shelters within five days. Details will be communicated to the public only based on government orders, stated Major Frank Armour, staff officer of the Civil Protection Force in the Vaud canton.
Many people are afraid and buying bunkers
Few countries can match the Swiss commitment to emergency preparedness, but in other parts of the world, many are trying to prepare for Doomsday.
Silvia Berger Ziauddin said that Swiss firms have been at the forefront of the bunker sector since the '60s when Swiss products and expertise were exported, solidifying the country's reputation for quality and technical know-how.
Xavier Brun, CEO of Bunker Swiss that sells customized bunkers, kit sets, and old military installations to clients in Switzerland and worldwide, stated that wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have led to increased demand for those seeking the privacy and security of a customized bunker.
"Many people have questions, many people are afraid," said Brun. He is now looking for a European distributor to help sell bunker kits - which cost between $46,000 and $93,000, or about half the cost of a customized bunker.
In the United States, there is a demand for bunkers ranging from about $20,000 for a basic version to state-of-the-art models that can cost up to a million dollars, according to Ron Hubbard, CEO of Atlas Survival Shelters based in Texas.
For Erich Breitenmoser, owner of one of the largest private bunkers in Switzerland, the country's modernization effort is "common sense." He paid a "seven-figure sum" for Fort Furggels in 2019, a bunker built in 1939 for defense against Hitler's army.
"Noah didn't build the ark during the flood, but built it before the flood," he said, adding: "You may never need it, but if you do, you'll be glad you have it."