The Lovely Swiss Villas That Could Destroy An Army

How do you hide a deadly military fortress? Well if you're Swiss, you paint it pastel pink and pretend it's a harmless family home. I went to the shores of Lake Geneva to find out more...
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CREDITS:
Map music from the Map Men series by Jay Foreman - • MAP MEN
Additional shots of La Villa Rose by Schutz - commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Us...
Toblerone photo by Ashley Pomeroy - commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
2CV photo by Ezarate - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C...

[@daedraq]

Imagine a burglar cracking open the garage door to then just stand in front of a massive gun

[@jannetteberends8730]

I imagine, 🤣😂🤣

[@P3x310]

"Say hello to my petite friend!"

[@TheTimTraveller]

Haha :D

[@joermnyc]

Burglar: So sorry... can I be a bother and get a change of underwear please?

[@szymongorczynski7621]

"This is America" starts playing.

[@terrors88]

As a member of the Swiss army, I can tell you that we have more than these two bunkers camouflaged as houses. I've been in several farm houses that you would never think that it's a bunker with full infrastructure and space for several hundred soldiers. I worked for two weeks straight underground in one with never seeing daylight. We had kitchen, offices, TV rooms and of course dorms and there was nothing from outside needed.

[@mrdoormat6809]

Amazing you can survive it without picking up some mental problems. Working underground for years in cramped space without seeing light can done numbers for most people's brain iirc.

[@terrors88]

@@mrdoormat6809 it was indeed challenging. We worked in three shifts day and night and it literally didn't matter anymore what time of the day it was

[@skakdosmer]

"nothing from the outside needed" - uh, except air?

[@uzetaab]

@@skakdosmer The air outside might not be breathable during a war. It's possible they make their own, or have air in storage.

[@uzetaab]

Isn't Switzerland considered the best defended country in the world? Lots of civilian bunkers, all citizens have military training. Enough guns to arm the populace. Weak points built into all the roads leading into the country. Like bridges, tunnels, etc. All designed to be blown up to prevent invasion. Air defences in the mountains surrounding the country to shoot down missiles/jets/choppers.

[@LuccaGasser]

Proud of my Country! Never lost focus on what's really important for Switzerland, Tourists.

[@alliationsneek7478]

Fuck klaus schwaab

[@12crenshaw]

I thought the most important was Toblerone

[@solesuna]

@@12crenshaw for tourists as well

[@MrMHERT80]

And gold

[@bamboozle4552]

You're not alone

[@228ss]

Army: we’d like to build some military fortifications. Local Council: they must be in keeping with the local surroundings. Army: I guess we can do that.

[@bypinkerton892]

They should call them..."Swiss Army Villa's"...

[@universalflamethrower6342]

@@bypinkerton892 they probably can transform into giant robots

[@iberlo85]

Ever heard of camouflage?

[@228ss]

@@iberlo85 I don’t really follow fashion tbh

[@iberlo85]

@@228ss nor the army or basic hunting techniques

[@CmonSoundz]

When you live in Switzerland and there is a guy from the UK telling you cool stuff about your home country. :-)

[@NicoNyon]

even weirder when it is from your home town

[@MrSaemichlaus]

I'm watching this video to spy over the Röschtigraben!

Use google and you find a lot of such interesting places. One of my favorit with installed but de-militarized guns is Crestawald. www.crestawald.ch/

[@xXPred4torXx]

Time for the RS 🤣

[@MrSaemichlaus]

@@xXPred4torXx I was in the RS in Fribourg, would not recommend *shrug*

[@cesariojpn]

Tim now on a Swiss Watch List for revealing Swiss Military Secrets.

[@zork999]

Pocket watch? Wrist watch? How does he get off the list and get the actual watch?

[@solracer66]

Do they keep the names in a Rolexdex? 😃

[@TherconJair]

Pretty much all decomissioned now ;)

[@TheGreatSteve]

*Cuckoo clock.

[@francesconicoletti2547]

cesariojpn it better be a Victorinox.

[@adityapradeep4020]

I visited the Villa Rose today (6/11/2021) and hiked the whole Sentier de Toblerones from Bassins to Nyon. I put it on my ToDo list since I saw your video Tim and decided to do this the next time the Villa Rose had an open house. Thank you so much! The Villa Rose is run by volunteers and the inside was really well maintained. I was not expecting much but it was quite cool! Some things I learned: 1. The reason it was painted pink was that it was a popular colour at the time for suburban houses. 2. Q: Why was this fortification line (Toblerones and Villa Rose) built further east at Nyon and not at say Geneva? And why were the fortresses near the main road? A: From Geneva, the first natural boundary is the river Promenthouse. So they built the toblerones on the right side of the river, so that the tanks would have to go first downhill, cross the river and then go uphill where they are met with these toblerones(each of which weigh upto 14 tons). The reason these 2 forts(Villa Rose and Villa verte) are near the main road(and are hence disguised as houses) was that there was a bridge across the river near the main road and so these forts were necessary. 3. The buildings are basically just a lot of concrete and there isn't a lot of space inside, considering there were 16 people (8 working and 8 sleeping) and a further 8 outside the villa! 4. Each fort had 3 cannons and some machine guns pointed outside. Each fort aims one of these in the direction of the other forts to assist in the defense of the other by crossfire. 5. The windows where the cannons are not trapezoidal shaped but are basically cuboids over cuboids - this is to prevent bullet ricochets! 6. There is a tiny vertical hole at the windows near the cannons. This is so that the soliders can drop grenades on potential enemy soldiers who managed to get close to the cannons to manually try destroying them. 7. They have a really cool ventilation system which still works today, which circulates air from outside to inside while also maintaining lower air pressure inside, so that air would always find it easier to come in. The Sentier de Toblerones hike is really pretty in Fall (would recommend avoiding going through the nearby golf course tho). Highly recommend visiting the Villa Rose on one of its open days and donating to help them keep up the good work!

[@TheTimTraveller]

Ah fantastic! Glad you enjoyed it Aditya, and thanks so much for all the extra interesting info :)

[@paulthiel5145]

So, are the cannons still inside the villa?

[@adityapradeep4020]

​@@paulthiel5145 Yes, they are.

[@awfan221]

I think British people were created to commentate things. They have perfect voices for commentary. They can hold their liquor pretty well too

[@miguelm.cassiano63]

lol for the liquor bit

[@user-sr4tb7tv6f]

@WorldFlex what’s creepy about that???

[@BlackCat-dm5yg]

Replying so I can see the flame wars later. Nice comment, though!

[@hexxon77]

As a Slav I have to disagree. Nice accent true, but with drinks well... good only for the first round...

[@mjb1859]

Not sure about the drinks part judging by the local spoons on a Friday night.

[@SeverityOne]

The Swiss have a much more capable defence these days. "OK, Switzerland, that's it. I'm invading you." "We understand, Mr President. I'm afraid we'll have to close your bank account, though." "On second thought, forget what I said."

[@Zurich_for_Beginners]

It worked the same way in WW2. "There is also that tunnel through the alps you like to use? I'm afraid we have to demolish that"

[@rickrandom6734]

Switzerland was already then place where dictators and criminals had their money kept and laundered.

[@SeverityOne]

@Peter Goezinya I know, but it's always fun to maintain stereotypes. For example, I'm Dutch, so I wear wooden shoes and live in a windmill.

[@pilot1721]

@Peter Goezinya I'm Australian today I fought off several drop bears and a half dozen deadly snakes. Please send help

[@Alex_4rex]

I'm german so skip this comment, it isn't funny.

[@smittube8028]

First rule of Fake Villas: DON’T TALK ABOUT FAKE VILLAS

[@olivier-pierredebelmont.3630]

Because that is only the tip of the iceberg!

[@myasand1340]

guess there live all exstasi etc in.-.- sorted out MKultra s etc. VERY glad hoffman book finally on german available!i ts more then time ALL the cruel hiddencrime make PUBLIC!!!and change societys into GOOD...

[@emjackson2289]

Aston! The one true Villa.

[@Zraknul]

They literally sell chocolate replicas of their tank defense.

[@georgtv9492]

As someone who lived in Lindau Germany, next to the border, i can tell that the bunkers torwards Germany are also nicely decorated and hidden

[@danbo967]

Meanwhile our German bunkers stick out incredibly ugly with graffiti.

[@falling_vega1257]

They stick out most of the time, but there’s a similar thing wear I live where the Nazi’s disguised concrete bunkers as houses. Unfortunately their disguises have all been stripped away by now

[@BuenavistaNZ]

Visited Lindau a few years ago. I remember it was so quiet and everything was closed at 7pm or something like that. Very pretty to look at, but I was so bored in the evenings lol

[@MCraft4U]

Weirdly enough, the bunkers near Kreuzlingen and the German city of Konstanz don't feel hidden at all. You can find them quite easily if you take a walk around the neighborhood.

[@tetrahydrocannabinol252]

@@BuenavistaNZ Who the fuck visits Lindau? It’s not a tourist region, hole Germany isn’t. It’s a nice place to life at but not a nice place to make holidays (ok maybe if u camp at a river…)

[@ElectricityTaster]

If I were invading Switzerland and that Toblerone line was actually made out of Toblerone, I can see myself being stuck there for a few weeks rather than a few minutes.

[@SimonBauer7]

so would i but maybe we are not made for invading switzerland in the first place.

[@johnladuke6475]

Seems like a sound all-purpose defensive plan for Switzerland... just keep giving them chocolate until they go away.

[@tf8896]

Plot twist: Tim is actually a secret agent surveying Switzerland.

[@bluebirbjayy]

These Swiz And There Smart Set Ups!

[@genstian]

Yes, it becomes obvious when he say France wasn't the enemy.

[@ElwoodPDowd-nz2si]

Thanks for blowing his cover.

[@robinfrommenwiler3257]

Should I be worried

[@tomjoad1363]

@@genstian Once a week there's a french mirage flying near the Mont Blanc in ordre to check for invasion swiss trooops along the border. The swiss could invade us in a week !

[@BaalFridge]

Switzerland: stealth forts France: to deceive the germans? Switzerland: the tourists France: y'know what? Fair.

[@BaalFridge]

@Lassi Kinnunen "mais putain who would want to live there the boulangerie is more than a 5 minutes walk away"

[@Anonymuskid]

65% of the swiss country is german, why would you insult us like that because of some nazis 80 years ago???? geeez, when will the former allies stop demonising being german...

[@ronaldschild157]

@@Anonymuskid Ahem! . . . approximately 65% of the Swiss population is German speaking. Swiss are not Germans; Germans are not Swiss - unless they emigrated. The German-speaking Swiss are culturally very similar to Germans, but it is still distinct as is the dialect they speak.

[@fitrianhidayat]

@@Anonymuskid the f*ck are you on about

[@matiashogden1240]

@@Anonymuskid I guess 80% of germany is English then? I mean considering people know how to speak English and all

[@scheberoff2992]

An advertisement for sale of the house: "A bit older, with no parking space inside, but alarm is connected to good defense tools and this house have never been robbed out yet."

[@jakedasnake138]

"Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak." SUN TZU

[@lukegeoffret1244]

When I play poker

[@jairoconsolascio5226]

"Sun Tzu said that. And he knows a little more than you about fighting, because he invented it!"

[@jakedasnake138]

@@jairoconsolascio5226 okay? 😂

[@jairoconsolascio5226]

@@jakedasnake138 Don't worry, I was just quoting Soldier from Team Fortress 2. XD

[@jakedasnake138]

@@jairoconsolascio5226 oh okay I was confused 😄

[@darkmann12]

"The lovely town of _F1 car screeching past_ "

[@lmaono1721]

I read this as he said it lol

[@DJShadesUK]

I had to go back and watch that bit a couple of times to get what you were on about... then p*ssed myself laughing because I was so dumb!

[@tokinGLX]

this is perhaps one of the best comments on the entirety of the internet. congratulations, you win!

[@danielzonneveld7712]

Whats the fastest town in Switzerland? _Nyon_ !

[@campbellsmith2006]

@@tokinGLX OMG i grew up watching ur vids man, what are the chances of finding u here ahah

[@user-fp6dt1os1l]

When you die, they're gonna write on your tombstone "but of course, we're not here to see any of that!"

[@dontspikemydrink9382]

I prefer going left. They said right in their comment

[@user-fp6dt1os1l]

@@dontspikemydrink9382 I'm an idiot

[@FulgerTheDude]

Lol I just read you comment when Tim said it in the video XD

[@ravenouself4181]

Albania: Bunkers France: Maginot Switzerland: Toblerone Line go Brrrrrrr

[@sanity._yl4568]

Fun Fact: Most swiss houses have bunkers built in from 1939

[@ravenouself4181]

@@sanity._yl4568 I wish I lived in Switzerland, and no, it's not because of the bunkers and guns. It's because Switzerland is a functional country unlike my homeland...

[@sanity._yl4568]

@@ravenouself4181 yeah that’s true it really is, the economy is very stable and the quality of life is undefeated. Citizens also have so many benefits

[@ravenouself4181]

@@sanity._yl4568 I was referring to the functional Government and low to non-existent levels of corruption... ye... my homeland has more in common with Belarus than Switzerland despite being nearly as mountainous. And, Yes, it's in Europe.

[@sanity._yl4568]

@@ravenouself4181 Eastern Europe I’m guessing

[@meep2k]

"You can usually walk the whole thing without being peppered by anti-tank guns." *usually.*

[@starlittardis2049]

"And of course, we're not here to see any of that!" I always smile when that line comes up.

[@ixlnxs]

I'm sure it will become his epitaph.

[@aureaphilos]

It's become a cliché in our home; either my kid or I will say it when we drive by something interesting or touristy!

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

No wonder Toblerone bars are so powerful

[@millomweb]

I think in a fight Toblerone bars would lose out to Irn Bru because the latter's made from....

[@maple494]

Avery I swear I've seen a comment from you in every single video I watch. LoL

[@sriyadityasrivatsa5346]

Ok here you are again

[@tomjoad1363]

Powerful to give you diabetes ! Trust me I know !

[@millomweb]

@@tomjoad1363 I've not figured out diabetes yet. It's going to be hard fighting all the health professionals that get in the way.

[@kevw333]

Now that, is what random KZbin recommendations are all about. Sweet.

[@flintytheraccbold]

Well Google keeps recommending crates of calculators because I looked up liquid crystals

[@KarenVerhoek]

The algorithm is finally starting to learn that some of us would rather click something totally new instead of just more of the stuff we've already seen!

[@MichiruEll]

There are so many fortification nerworks inside the mountains too. You'll be driving by a cliff and suddenly you realise there's a bunch of windows in the cliff. Some if them are being sold cause they need maintenance. I've heard of some being transformed into server farms (because stable temperatures inside mountains).

[@johncalvinhall]

Tim, I really appreciate your videos. Being an amputee, I no longer am able to walk and hike as easily as I used to Thanks to your videos, I can continue to see the world. Keep up the good work.

[@gammon1183]

I use a virtual reality head set and google earth to revisit all my travells and holidays . Please don't think me a dick but you might find it kinda cool especially for checking future destinations out.

[@johncalvinhall]

@@gammon1183 Yes! This is a great idea. A friend and I use Google Earth, along with Street View, and KZbin to travel all over the place. I realize it's nowhere near being there in real-life, but being on a fixed income and disabled, it is way better than what our parents had.

[@gammon1183]

@@johncalvinhall Good skills John and all the best to you mate .

[@pip_rake]

@@johncalvinhall i salute your positivity. Courage all the way

[@Ridiric]

I have fibromyalgia and also suffer from frequent migraines as well so i don't get out and about much any more, especially compared to how active i was as a teen/young adult, watching videos like this and using google earth is a lot of fun and helps me feel less trapped. Also, this whole comment thread is a breath of fresh air after reading some of the negative stuff above, hats off to you lot!

[@s.carswell9196]

I’ll have to keep an eye out for these next time I invade Switzerland

[@robinfrommenwiler3257]

You wot

[@luca920]

If you visit the Alps, take a look at cliffs, mountain sides, mountain huts. We have littered every single mountain with heavy artillery and bunkers. We're worse than moles.

[@olivenkranz]

@Uddipan Mondal if one power uses nukes, the others will too. And nukes wont be used until the very end, because the one who fires first a nuke dies second. And no one profits from attacking the swiss lol

[@meiky88]

Have fun, but you won't get far

[@tiko4621]

Luca Zakmiov can’t stop biowarfare with your puny bricks. When we invade the Swiss you’ll all have the pox!

[@brianfergus839]

As a child in Switzerland in the ‘60s I certainly did associate the shape of Toblerone chocolates to the tank traps!

[@SpiritMQ]

You were a smart kid

[@nihilizt]

I'm swiss and I made my mandatory military service in the artillery in a fortress in the alps, but I never heard of those villas! Thank you!

[@gyrocompa]

4:35 "Oh elle est jolie cette maison !" You killed me !

[@yaseeisthere]

😂😂😂 lmfao

[@YeeSoest]

1930s: Switzerland builds secret fortifications looking like Villas to not scare off tourists 2030s: Mallorca builds secret bars looking like fortifications to scare off tourists

[@andycapo9you]

True story!

[@carolinemaja2199]

Interesting, I'm Swiss, never heared of such things

[@ericbell7]

@@carolinemaja2199 jä chum iz:) de suech mau öppis über Faulensee. Die vier Bunker si crazy:)

[@deus2570]

@@ericbell7 si

[@deus2570]

@Jverbe Its not French, its italian

[@CortVermin]

"and the windows are fake and painted on." "-wait what?"

[@-_James_-]

The frames and shutters are real. Just the inner portion is painted.

[@davidmiller1379]

Switzerland is a beautiful country and the flag is a big plus

[@hunters36forgingwoodworkin73]

I see what you did there.

[@gianurwiler5098]

true

[@RobynGallagher]

Dying that the official information sign literally calls it "Le sentier des Toblerones" (Toblerone Trail)

[@ncot_tech]

Pouty MacPotatohead ones shaped after Poundland’s Twin Peaks bars might be quite effective though. Cheaper, too!

[@MMMM-pq1cj]

@Pouty MacPotatohead To be fair, only in the UK Toblerobe has such huge gaps.

[@noobster4779]

@Pouty MacPotatohead To be fair...the swiss army in the valley area would have been defeated in less then a week if germany actually wated to invade. Only the south and east would have been somewhat safe until the germans at that time send in their own mountain huggers to clear them out.....the austrians and bavarians :D

[@ayansharma8281]

The "private property" owner has the best weapon to defend his property. A freaking anti tank gun.

[@rubenskiii]

Actually those forts packed an even heavier punch! Anti-Tank guns of that era of construction where only 25-45mm in calibre, and the forts packed bigger guns! The AT gun where more of the flanking guns with big field guns being the main firepower. They usually also had multiple watercooled machineguns, those can shoot for days if fed. The soldiers in it also had racks of rifles and grenades to deal with closeby threats.

[@st-ex8506]

RUBENSKI you only forgot minefields ready to be laid around the forts in case of immediate danger... (from a Swiss Army officer living in the region)

[@Dave-ko3lm]

You can actually buy these forts for a fairly cheap price at auctions from time to time, a few years back one was sold for 25'000 i think, not sure about the price tho

[@IudiciumInfernalum]

A little cumbersome. But sure to stop a Panzer Mark IV.

[@lgxp8822]

3:33 It's been 1 years that I see these blocks every day from the train and I finally understood what they were for... LMAO

[@mkms685]

American land owner: "Hey! Get off my lawn!" Swiss "land owner": "Feuer!!!"

[@patrickverlinden71]

Reminds me of an old Chinese saying "Never trust a pink villa"

[@Herfinnur]

0:57 "This is the lovely town of [makes quiet racing car noise]"

[@theworldisavampire3346]

Loved Switzerland & Austria the most when I backpacked Europe. Absolutely Gorgeous countries.

[@ShebZockt]

Damn. Was reading "Switzerlands fake villains" and was pretty confused but hyped at the same time.

[@fitnesswithsteve]

In America they have houses like that too, but they are just owned by a crazy guy

[@DarkSoul1992]

Dave Todd You mean pee heads?

[@hikingwithmarty]

the white house...?

[@princecharon]

@@hikingwithmarty He's being evicted soon.

[@nicholaswilson1851]

princecharon wait does the current president ‘own’ the White House for his term? If not who does own the White House?

[@princecharon]

@@nicholaswilson1851 Hmm. I think that depends on which definition of 'own' we're using. Trump certainly thought that he owned it, which is why I used that joke, while also implying that he was an unwanted guest.

[@LaTigerGenesis]

I love the little things that motivate your travel / videos! Less touristy and more raw curiosity haha. cheers

[@boozy8659]

I can’t express how beautiful the lake Geneva is in person. If you ever get the chance I would 100% recommend.

[@BOABModels]

The US could defend itself with its chocolate - I tried Hershey and it put me off for life.

[@jwenting]

yeah, but the Hershey line would melt if a Canadian or Mexican soldier just looked at it...

[@iamami_d]

Deep burn. 🤣🤣

[@davidpruittpruitt7579]

Hershey is the best tasting chocolate in the world! It beat all the others in match after match. I don't get how, but it did.

[@OfftoShambala]

Hershey and nestle enslave African children in the chocolate fields of the Ivory Coast.

[@arvalb0]

@@davidpruittpruitt7579 gershey raset like vomit

[@Jerbod2]

NYONNNNNNN is probably the sound Tim makes when flying over your head.

[@jannepeltonen2036]

Or maybe a Nyan Cat with an accent?

[@mecha-sheep7674]

Nope. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4GWloScaJekfdU Try at 0:40

[@Xperian13]

2 barbie houses and long line of Toblerone. Got it.

[@RetoB1976]

I just discovered your channel, and I'm already a big fan. I grow up near all of those mountains at the shore of the lake of thoune. As I'm interested in history and as a former member of the famous Swiss army (I'm joking) I already know about all the fortresses up in the mountains. Some can never imagine what they had built there. However, honestly, I've never heard of those deadly military fortress near Nyon. This was entirely new to me. Thank you for making this video, keep up the good work.

[@Ottoskokozo]

I’m passing next to this house every morning to go to school, I’m travelling from gland to Nyon 😂

[@tumi6ocdn]

This just brought a tear to my eye :') I used to live just up the road from there and spent a lot of time in Nyon and Gland. Seeing those images of downtown Nyon really brought beautiful memories flooding back, so thank you for that. P.S. - anyone scoffing at the idea that I could say that Nyon has a "downtown" area given how small it is, keep in mind that Nyon meets all the qualifications to be a city in Switzerland XD

[@sarowie]

"qualifies as a city in Switzerland" - that bar is pretty low. Klingnau is a city, because it was a medival city on the Aare and it has a city wall. Now a days, you can not find the municipality border and the neighboring municipalities have more population then the city. On the other hand: When you lay a city map of london over Zurich, you start to realize that Baden really is just a secondary center of the metropolitan area. Nothing wrong with that - it is just interesting how granular goverment is in switzerland and that a city in switzerland has a much smaller scale then an international city.

[@terrier_productions]

This is why I love your channel, Tim. I would have never known about the things you go to see & record (ie. the volcano railway and the army destroying villas) keep it up!

[@thetasmaniandevilispissedo1041]

If you would see what we have underground all across the country and in the mountains 😂🤣😂🤣

[@bulrot03]

Don’t speak about the hundred km in electric car ahahah

[@nusvivin6905]

🤫

[@janzzen9095]

Partialy, you can. The fortress on the simplon pass is open to the public. It is quite amazing.

[@Kalidor99]

Like the 5 nukes that we NOT have because Lucens had a partial core meltdown?

[@jljl640]

3:10 "Illustration not to scale" 🤣🤣🤣 Good one! 👍🏻

[@thespanishinquisition9595]

Reminds me of that one trip we took to the swiss alps more than thirty yeras ago. My dad got out of the car to take pictures of the mountenous landscape, when suddenly a swiss soldier appeared out of nowhere and told my father that it was strictly forbidden to take pictures right here. It was only then that we realised that the mountain in front of us had a huge door right at its middle that was camouflaged as stone. You could only see the cut out line.

[@joermnyc]

Was that the theme from “Keeping of Appearances”? Yes, if only Emmett had an anti-tank gun to stop Hyacinth when she “sang at” him.

[@c.s.s.5326]

Music choices for the two possible invaders around 2:56 had me ROLLING! Hahaha. Well played.

[@MBTIMemes]

This was a really good and informative video, thank you :D

[@shayne-1880]

5:17 “Meanwhile, the Toblerone line is now a hiking route, and these days you can USUALLY walk the whole thing without being peppered by anti-tank guns” WAIT A SEC-

[@skyvenrazgriz8226]

Not only villas, also barns etc, they have stuff everywhere

[@jwenting]

and it's not just the Swiss either. The Germans disguised an airbase in the Netherlands as a farming village, the aircraft hangars being barns complete with straw covered roofs and things like that, but with thick steel reinforced concrete walls.

[@herosstratos]

@@jwenting The “IJssellinie“ was build by the Netherlands in the 50s. www.ijssellinie.nl/

[@plagiats]

Very informative. Thank you for keeping it short and to the point

[@grilnam9945]

Apparently until recently all the bridges had explosives strapped to them as well, and may still.

[@zetohd5625]

Very much so. All relevant bridges are fully prepared to be blown apart. It’s also part of the Swiss ‚Guerilla’ defense system. All Swiss army man own a gun, with a small pack of ammunition, ready to start the battle. And this is all not a joke, being an armed Swiss myself.

[@bonnienichalson5151]

what about Swiss Ladys :) thay need a gun of there Own

[@incognitonegress3453]

@@bonnienichalson5151 didnt u mean swiss miss?

[@gaymermoment]

@@incognitonegress3453 swiss miss instant piss

[@CrowArchLane]

I wonder who looks after the front gardens :D

[@deepblue64]

CrowArchLane department of defense to be honest...

[@NoOnesBCE]

A few sorry Bunker artillery soldiers that still exist.

[@spartan963300]

I can just imagine a grim-faced artillery commander tending to all the delicate flowers with a little apron

[@matsv201]

@@spartan963300 its probobly the most bloddy thing the swizz army will ever do

[@unintentionallydramatic]

Switzerland has mandatory military service, so uh. Frustrated teenagers.

[@scentedcandles1236]

I swear the song at 2:11 is the theme song to Keeping Up Appearances.

[@LeeBv9983]

It is. Can't you see Hyacinth peaking from behind the curtains? She was the real threat.

[@scentedcandles1236]

Probably keeping an eye out for Emmet.

[@keithphilbin3054]

"Mind the lovely French tourists, Richard"!

[@scentedcandles1236]

@Steve Didn't know it was available to stream in the US through Britbox, must be a recent change.

[@pizzasampletext8271]

“So where do you want your next military base?” “Villa.”

[@marcjohnson3553]

I’ve lived 5 min from there my whole life and never knew about the villa. Shame on me. Thanks for this great and informative video !

[@kzonedd7718]

We are glad to anounce that today's 'Hellooo' has a bonus 'Bonjour' and has been rated by experts to be an excelent vintage, with earthy notes and a hint of happy puppy.

[@idontremembermylogin]

Allo Allo and Map Men? I must be dreaming.

[@rae-el-gee]

And Keeping up Appearances 😊

[@TeamMunky]

Thank you Tim! I didn't even know I was curious about this, and then here you come along opening up a very interesting can of worms Very excellent video, and I appreciate that it didn't feel like any time was wasted at all. Cheers!

[@TheTimTraveller]

Ah thanks Krunky Munky! Comments like this are the reason why I make videos :)

[@HenrysAdventures]

Love things like this! Looks like an interesting walk along the Toblerone to!

[@bencaps]

The police sometimes put a speed-radar in there, extremely annoying

[@yaseeisthere]

nei wüki? 😂🙄 die hends scho nötig..

[@drlaw9312]

cost me Sfr 20 mutters darkly they (police) hate SO number plates in Nyon.

[@alec4672]

Imagien moving to Switzerland and thinking you're just gonna go say hello to your new neighbors 😂😂

[@edwilko8819]

Really enjoyed that lil video,thank you for making it 👏👍🙂

[@GermanGreetings]

You got a wonderful humour and sweet spicy grafics ! Thank you so much ...with a broad smile !

[@dorian7661]

The most impressive one, which you can visit most of the year, is the one overlooking le Day and Vallorbe. A fake chalet that commanded all access to Switzerland through these areas. Their guns and cannons had an impressive scope from up there. Also, the Swiss weren't very scared of the French but more about Germans invading through a conquered France.

[@bl7355]

Thanks Tim. I am a really enjoying your channel and you have given me loads of excellent travel ideas. A note on tank blocks: they are not only designed to slow tanks down but also to cause them to expose their soft under bellies so they can be penetrated more easily.

[@fudogwhisperer3590]

When I was a kid visiting my relatives where my mom grew up in Zurich, my brother and I went for a hike with my dad and we came upon a pillbox in the woods along the train. Quite exciting for a 6 year old!

[@kabochaVA]

4:35 "Hé, elle est jolie cette maison !" 🤣

[@ixlnxs]

Loved that too.

[@ColinH1973]

Hahaha! Onions, onions, onions!! 😁

[@QemeH]

"These days you can *usually* walk the whole line without being peppered by anti-tank guns." Usually... :D

[@ytwos1]

QemeH it wont work if you are tanked.

[@gunterhagendorf8318]

The Swiss Army does its exercices usually with life ammunition all over the year round. When you hike you should always look in advance for the official annoucments of military exercises and which mountain tracks could come under mortar or artillery fire. Its not reserved to military exercice grounds.

[@sarowie]

the Swiss army had one occasion, where miscommunication caused firing on neighboring country. In consequences, the ring of the toured was then not only labeled in degrees, but also name of the country the gun is pointing at.

[@martinesproduction]

Thank you very much for making a film about my neighbouring. It is always good to see a short film with humour about things around us.

[@TrainThings]

2:49 "Allo, Allo!" intro for France. Genius!

[@malachimeeker9480]

2:52 was a hilarious and great use of "O Fortuna".

[@_computerra]

Was so excited for the new upload! Didn't disappoint Tim, eh? You never do.

[@pikethree]

My mom once was on holiday in Switzerland, said they driving along in the country side all Happy as Larry when the side of a mountain opened up and a jet came whooshing out then the mountain became a innocent looking mountain again. She was impressed.

[@puttytat007]

I'm sorry, no disrespect, but, what have you been smoking? 😳 🤗😯🤫

[@salicyl3350]

When driving through the swiss alps and keep your eyes open, you see fortifications hidden almost everywhere... small vents sticking out of mountain sides, some hidden concrete entrances and so on

[@KokkiePiet]

Again a lovely and interesting video

[@timm9631]

Love your interesting stories, I can't get enough of them! Keep up the good work!

[@illusivemusings]

Even though I'll never have the opportunity to visit most of these places - save that french art museum with the junk on the outside, been there - your descriptions afterwards of how to visit the location are so needed in other videos I've seen. Very professional presentation.

[@davekirwin]

Thanks Tim, most interesting. Nice sound fx btw.

[@CallieMasters5000]

I used to live in Switzerland, and it never failed to surprise visitors when they saw our building's bomb shelter. It was extensive but we used it for storage.

[@PrograError]

Like in most paranoid countries with such shelters... *Looks inside my shelter* at least there ain't a need for it for now... *Sigh*

[@Wankdorf183]

@@PrograError To protect herself is paranoid.. nice What kind of mental problems do you have?

[@papabear5080]

This was so interesting and we really enjoyed it. The narrator is humorous and fun to listen to. Thank you.

[@Visitor1234]

2:48 is a masterpiece of comedy. Also 3:10 "illustration not to scale".

[@joostbuitenhuis714]

Hahahahahahahah your pronounciation of Nyon is legendary 😂😂 it just sounds like a f1 car coming past

[@st-ex8506]

... it is an actual local joke!

[@floforsure3110]

1:28 map men map men men men

[@Roblilley999]

Well spotted

[@natef4247]

men men men men men men men

[@bahnspotterEU]

Never draw on a map!

[@karljones543]

What do you mean? I couldn't find the reference.

[@zoltanm8278]

@@karljones543 the music...

[@mistouko]

Thank you Tim!

[@ChefJenniferParker]

Illustration not to scale... 😂😂. I love that I get caught off guard by the dry humor In your videos. 👏

[@mrkrokogator3360]

Did not know about this kind of camouflage - I‘m Swiss... Great videos by the way!

[@PrograError]

Swiss are masters in camouflage, they even blow up a mountain in defence!

[@Cliff_Dixon_42]

"This demonstrates the value of not being seen."

[@alyssia7239]

Wait, that's my hometown in my KZbin suggestions ? 😂😂 That was my daily walk during lockdown last spring 😂

[@gaspardking]

I’ve gone past this house so many times when i was a kid. It always fascinated me!

[@DJShadesUK]

"These days you can usually walk the whole thing without being peppered by anti-tank guns". Usually?!? So there are days when...

[@kittonsmitton]

LOL!

[@ambergris5705]

Oh, so you're the guy I nearly ran over today! I thought I recognised you :) Anyway, welcome to Switzerland!

[@PrograError]

Way to go to say hi...

[@SeverityOne]

"The Tim Traveller channel unfortunately has had to close down on account of Tim getting run over by a crazed Swiss fan/stalker."