Fun with Maps ISSUE 2025-096

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (May 29, 2025) – In today’s edition of Fun with Maps, we learn the legend of a “gun under a bed in every household” in Switzerland.      

Helvetia

Complicated.  That is Switzerland.

This small nation with very little natural resources managed to maintain one of the highest standards of living in the world.  Chocolate, watches, chemical production (well mostly in Basel), banking, hosting international company offices as well as international government agencies all fuel its economy.

There are 27 independent cantons in the confederation. (Editor’s note: cantons are relatively small divisions within a country; like states or provinces – especially in Switzerland)

Its official name is Confoederatio Helvetica, which is Latin that is not an official language.  Stamps issued show the country as Helvetia.  The official languages are German, French, Italian and Romansh spoken in just one canton.

Historically, all males had to serve in the armed forces and retained their weapons after service – just in case there is an invasion.  (NOTE: the last one was by the French in the late 1700s.)  So there is a gun, so to speak, under a bed in each household, yet Switzerland has one of the lowest murder rates.

The present constitution of Switzerland became effective on May 29, 1874.

Homann’s map of the country is shown here from 1751.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.