National Maps of Switzerland


The National Maps of Switzerland are a set of official map series designed, edited and distributed by Swisstopo, the Swiss Federal Office of Topography. Each map series is based on an oblique, :de:Konforme Abbildung |conformal, cylindrical projection, with a Swiss Coordinate system. All maps are updated in a complete cycle of about six years.
In 1938, the Federal Office of Topography started issuing new map sheets, which were intended to succeed the old Dufour and Siegfried Maps. They first appeared in 1:50,000 scale, and from 1952 also in 1:25,000 scale. In addition, further generalisations were made in smaller scales. In each scale, the whole of Switzerland was covered. In 1979, with the issuance of the last 1:25,000 scale sheet, the work was completed.
The map sheets have been produced in several different versions: topographic maps, tourist maps, special maps. They are now also available on electronic media. The topographic maps have been published in the following scale series:
NameScalePublication yearsCover colourNo. of sheets
National map1:25,0001952–1979brown247
National map1:50,0001938–1963dark green78
National map1:100,0001954–1965light red23
National map1:200,000orange4
General map1:300,000blue1
National map1:500,000dark red1
National map1:1,000,000light green1

The normal map sheets are arranged in a grid pattern. In addition, there are composition maps covering urban agglomerations, or tourist areas. Many of 1:50,000 scale map sheets are also available as :de:Wanderkarte|hiking maps or as ski tour maps.
The Federal Office of Topography also publishes the following digital products:
For all of these maps, the Pierres du Niton rocks, in the port of Geneva, are the reference point for height measurements.
In 2005, a proposal for the spelling of local names on the national map in a manner closer to the way in which they are pronounced was made available for the :de:Vernehmlassung|formal Swiss consultation process. Many national map users are opposed to this proposal.