Switzerland maintains extensive network of nuclear bomb shelters

Switzerland maintains an extensive network of more than 370,000 nuclear bomb shelters, providing approximately 9 million shelter places—roughly 114% of the country's population. This capacity is a legacy of Cold War-era policies that mandated civil protection for all citizens.

While many shelters are integrated into the basements of residential and urban buildings, some have taken on alternative uses. Cold War-era bunkers are currently utilized for art and wine storage, as well as housing migrants.

The Sonnenberg bunker in Lucerne, one of the world's largest, was constructed in the 1970s to house 20,000 people. Although Switzerland is a neutral nation, the government maintained the network following a 2011 parliamentary vote to preserve the infrastructure, a decision influenced by concerns over nuclear fallout and recent global conflicts.