Historical images
swisstopo’s image collection is a unique cultural treasure that encompasses approximately half a million aerial and terrestrial images as well as photos documenting the activities of the Federal Office. The images of the landscapes from the 1920s through to the present day are used for a wide range of purposes. Over the next few years, a special plan is to be implemented to ensure that the valuable originals are carefully preserved and easily accessible.

Our aerial images are vertical or oblique high-resolution landscape photographs. They contain a great deal of information and are used as a valuable source for identifying dynamic processes, as well as for documentation and planning purposes.
The terrestrial images were used as the basis for producing the 1:50,000 National Map and the 1:10,000 fortification maps in the period from 1915 to 1947.
The swisstopo image collection has been listed in the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property as a collection of national importance since 2021.
Preservation and accessibility measures
Many of the valuable originals are endangered due to age-related deterioration and frequent use. In view of this, a plan to preserve and showcase them is to be implemented over the next few years, and at the same time, digitisation will greatly improve the accessibility of the numerous images.
Links
- Historical images on map.geo.admin.ch
- Aerial photographs available in the information system for aerial photographs (LUBIS)
- fotoCH - historical photography in Switzerland
- Memoriav – Association for the preservation of Switzerland’s audiovisual cultural heritage
- smapshot - the participatory time machine
Document
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Key data and features of swisstopo’s image collection
PDF, 7 page(s), 350 KB, English
Services
P.O. Box
3084 Wabern
- Tel.
- +41 58 469 01 11
Relevant authority
Infodesk history