Course d'école au Musée Fort de Chillon : la neutralité suisse en temps de guerre (notion pour les élèves)

School trip to the Fort de Chillon Museum: Swiss neutrality in times of war (concept for students)

Switzerland is neutral, but what does this neutrality mean during world wars? Discover how it prepares for war to preserve its independence.

Celebrate Swiss National Day at the Fort de Chillon Museum!

Swiss neutrality

Switzerland's permanent neutrality was recognized in 1815 by the major European powers at the Congress of Vienna. It means that Switzerland does not participate in wars between states and does not enter into binding military alliances. This position allows it to play a specific role as a mediator and host to international organizations.

Armed neutrality and deterrence

Swiss neutrality is not unarmed pacifism, but rather a neutrality Armed neutrality: the country's credibility rests on its ability to defend itself. A large militia army, protected infrastructure, and a territory that is difficult to conquer serve as a deterrent. During the 20th century, especially during World War II and the Cold War, Switzerland invested heavily in fortresses, shelters, and defensive structures.

The Fort of Chillon as an example

The Fort of Chillon is a concrete example of this armed neutrality: carved into the rock, it controls a strategic bottleneck between the lake and the mountains, ready to block any invader without belonging to any military bloc. The Fort of Chillon Museum shows students how an abstract political doctrine—neutrality—is translated into very concrete technical, architectural, and military choices.

For teachers

This article serves as a basis for preparing for a school trip to the Fort de Chillon Museum and does not claim to be exhaustive. It can be supplemented in class by studying the National Redoubt, the militia army, and Switzerland's role in 20th-century Europe.