Historical maps
The swisstopo map collection is a unique cultural treasure comprising all first editions and revised versions of the official Dufour Map, the Siegfried Map and the series of national maps. The collection also contains a variety of documents, including handwritten items. All editions of the maps produced in analogue form can now be obtained in digital form or conveniently viewed chronologically in swisstopo’s map viewer.

Most comprehensive collection of Swiss historical geodata
With the official maps produced from 1840 onwards, together with their largely hand-drawn documentation, swisstopo’s map collection contains Switzerland’s oldest geographic reference data. The approximately 36,000 printed maps and 25,000 manuscript maps (hand-drawn originals) form the most comprehensive collection of historical geodata in Switzerland. The swisstopo map collection has been listed in the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property as a collection of national importance since 2021.
Cultural treasure and landscape memory
Although it was originally conceived as a pure archive of outdated maps, since 1838 swisstopo’s collection has evolved into a cultural treasure of national importance. Taken together, the items in the collection represent a comprehensive record of the development of Switzerland’s landscapes.
Visualisation of Switzerland's landscape and residential development
With the aid of the sets of historical maps it is possible to trace the evolution of Switzerland’s landscape and the history of its residential development right back to the era before the founding of the Swiss Confederation. swisstopo introduced a visualisation service in 2013 that enables users to embark on a fascinating and informative journey through history. With the aid of the sets of historical maps it is possible to trace the evolution of Switzerland’s landscape and the history of its residential development right back to the era before the founding of the Swiss Confederation. A journey through time is available in the federal geoportal that can be used for viewing maps dating from any desired era.
swisstopo as authority responsible for the collection of national maps
swisstopo is required by law to permanently place this national treasure at the disposal of the public for a broad variety of uses, and it fulfils this requirement in the following ways:
- Compilation
swisstopo places the collection of national maps at the disposal of the public by posting them on the various portals. Users can search for any desired historical map sheets via the online catalogue of federal administration libraries Alexandria, by visiting the Kartenportal.ch website or by clicking on the historical maps (journey through time
link see above).
- Digitisation
swisstopo has produced high-resolution scans of the original historical analogue maps, and these digital products can now be ordered from swisstopo. The Dufour Map, Siegfried Map and sets of national maps are also available online via map.geo.admin.ch, where they can be compared with the present-day maps with the aid of a variety of tools.
- Protection and preservation measures
swisstopo’s map collection is protected in specially enclosed and air-conditioned premises which are not open to the public. The maps are kept in special flat, acid-free receptacles. swisstopo personnel repair and restore any damaged items wherever necessary.
Preservation of historical maps
Links
P.O. Box
3084 Wabern
- Tel.
- +41 58 469 01 11
Relevant authority
Infodesk history