An arial view of Verenahof/Büttenhardt, the small enclave in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, that once belonged to Germany.
ETH-Bibliothek Zürich, Bildarchiv/Stiftung Luftbild Schweiz / Fotograf: Swissair Photo AG
Can you imagine being a Swiss citizen living abroad in your own village? Confused? This was the case for the residents of the small German enclave of Verenahof in canton Schaffhausen between 1522 and 1967.
On October 4, 1967, the patch of German farmland – which today comprises three houses and fewer than a dozen people – was absorbed into Switzerland as part of a land swap agreement between the two countries.
The riddle started in 1522, when Emperor Charles V and his brother Archduke Ferdinand of Austria purchased Verenahof, the size of 60 football pitches, together with several nearby villages from a German aristocrat. The Emperor insisted that these small territories should not be sold on to the Swiss canton of Schaffhausen, which had already bought its independence from the Habsburgs in 1418 and had become a member of the Swiss Confederation in 1501.
Hiding Nazis
The struggle for ownership continued during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, inherited sovereign rights over Verenahof in 1806 and in the 1920s there were several failed attempts to integrate Verenahof into Switzerland.
Several Nazi officers apparently tried to hide on the farmland at the end of the Second World War but were expelled by the Swiss authorities.
Verenahof: Previously part of the German commune Wiechs am Randen, less than 500 metres from the German border, Verenahof is now part of the Swiss municipality of Büttenhardt and exists only as a street name.
swisstopo
Swiss climate activists block vehicles near Gotthard tunnel
This content was published on
Around ten climate activists briefly blocked the A2 motorway near the northern entrance of the Gotthard tunnel on Thursday.
Watches belonging to Michael Schumacher up for auction
This content was published on
Schumacher's family is auctioning off eight rare watches from his collection in Geneva. The Christie's auction will take place on Monday.
Joya Marleen and Baschi named best solo acts at Swiss Music Awards
This content was published on
St. Gallen singer Joya Marleen and Baschi from Basel were named artists of the year at the Swiss Music Awards 2024 on Wednesday night.
Swiss authorities announce cost-cutting in asylum sector
This content was published on
The government notably wants to improve integration into the labour force, particularly for people with protection status S.
Various leaders confirm participation at Ukraine peace conference
This content was published on
The presidents of Poland, Finland, and Latvia and the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium will be at the Swiss-hosted talks in mid-June.
This content was published on
In the winter season up to April 2024, railway and cable car operators ferried 3% more visitors compared to the previous winter, and 5% more than the five-year average.
Rhine flooding: Swiss to invest CHF1 billion with Austria
This content was published on
As part of an international agreement with Austria, the Swiss government wants to pump CHF1 billion ($1.1 billion) into flood protection measures along the Rhine over the next three decades.
Swiss government proposes CHF10 million UNRWA donation
This content was published on
After months of debate, Switzerland plans to give CHF10 million ($11 million) to the UN agency this year, rather than the CHF20 million initially foreseen.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.