Having survived two world wars, Locarno and its surroundings are steeped in military history. Visitors hoping to learn more about wartime Switzerland at the border with Northern Italy will find fascinating historical sites right in the region.

This private tour offers a picks for the best military sites in the region. The short tour will combine visits on sites as well as a brief historical introduction on the period.

Picture left: portrayal of the Swiss troops in September 1939 in the southern front. In Ticino mainly the Grenzbrigade 9 (Border Brigate 9) on the left – in Wallis, the Gebirgsbrigade 10. Copyright: E-Periodica, Standorte Karte der Armee.

Content of the tour:

• Introduction
• First World War sites (Locarnese forts defense line)
• The period in between (Locarno Peace Treaty 1925)
• Second World War sites (defense line, Operation Sunrise, partisan sites)
• Epilogue