Swiss Fort Knox

Swiss Fort Knox in Gstaad is a former military bunker tunnelled into the mountainside near Saanen, in the canton of Bern, now used as a high-security data centre. It sits roughly two kilometres from Gstaad and is one of the Bernese Alps' stranger landmarks: instead of a hotel or a lift station, the rock hides servers.

What is Swiss Fort Knox?

The name covers two underground data centres built inside Alpine fortifications. Their stated aim is long-term access to digital cultural and scientific assets. The site near Gstaad, known as SFK II, has been running since 1996, and a second one in Zweisimmen opened in 2003. Customers have included banks, public bodies and universities.

What is the history of the fort?

The Swiss army carved thousands of bunkers into the Alps and kept a dense fortification network until the end of the Cold War. Near Saanen, the bunker served as an Air Force command post during the war. In the 1990s the army began renting and selling off some installations to civilian firms. In 1994 the first agreement between the military and a private partner for civilian use of a fortress was signed, conversion began in 1995, and the data centre went live a year later. One photographic archive dates the bunker's interior walls to 1946.

Can you visit Swiss Fort Knox?

No. It is a working industrial facility with armoured doors, controlled entry and round-the-clock security, not a tourist attraction. There are no regular tours, ticket desk or visitor centre. From the road or nearby trails you can see only the outer mountainside, with no way inside. If Swiss military fortifications interest you, look at the military museums in the canton of Bern instead.

How do you get there?

Saanen lies in the Saanenland valley on the rail line from Montreux to Zweisimmen and onward to Interlaken. You can reach Gstaad on the GoldenPass train or by car via Château-d'Œx or Zweisimmen. From Gstaad to Saanen is about two kilometres, a short trip by bike, bus or on foot. Saanen-Gstaad airfield, established in 1942, is also nearby.

What else is there to do nearby?

Gstaad is known for luxury hotels, but it also makes a good base for hiking across the Saanenland meadows, skiing in winter and cycling in summer. Pair a short stop around Saanen with a stroll through central Gstaad, where the pedestrian Promenade gathers shops and restaurants. Treat the fort as a curiosity along the way rather than the reason for the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Swiss Fort Knox?

Near Saanen, about two kilometres from Gstaad in the canton of Bern, at roughly 46.486 N, 7.254 E.

Can I go inside?

No. The facility is closed to visitors. Companies store client data there, and only authorised people get in.

What was the fort used for before?

It was a Swiss army bunker that served as an Air Force command post during the war. After the Cold War the military released it for civilian use.

Is there a second Swiss Fort Knox?

Yes, in Zweisimmen, in another former military bunker. It opened in 2003, seven years after the site near Gstaad.