Switzerland's geography recreated at 1:1 scale in Minecraft using open geodata

Minecraft Switzerland Project

A project has released a 1:1 scale recreation of Switzerland within Minecraft Java Edition 1.12.2. This digital rendition includes the country's geographical features such as mountains, glaciers, lakes, forests, and dams, all based on open geodata provided by swisstopo. Each block in the game represents one square meter of real-world terrain.

Geographical Accuracy

The in-game world accurately reflects the topography of Switzerland, from Lake Geneva to Val Müstair. Notable landmarks like the Matterhorn are rendered with their actual height and steepness. An interactive map allows users to view the in-game world overlaid with real aerial imagery from swisstopo, and provides teleport commands to specific locations.

Availability and Access

A free demo version covering the UNESCO Jungfrau-Aletsch World Heritage site, including Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau, and the Aletsch Glacier, is available for download. This free section is approximately 2,400 km² and serves as a compatibility test. The full map of Switzerland can be purchased starting from 15 CHF, with payment options including TWINT, card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

Technical Requirements and Installation

The project requires Minecraft Java 1.12.2 and utilizes the Cubic Chunks mod. Users need to download the free Prism Launcher and log in with a Microsoft account. The downloaded ZIP file is imported into Prism, which automatically installs Forge and Java 8. After starting the instance, players select 'generator.schweiz' as the world type to load the map. Mod, texture pack, and shaders are included with the download.