Modern-day Schaffhausen in Nov 2006 during my Switzerland visit. View look towards southeast of city, from atop Schloss Munot : a medieval castle built to protect the city and its Rhein river traffic. Scars of 1944 Allied bombing can still be found on certain churches and municipal buildings as poignant historical reminder. Otherwise, city is a tourist mecca with superb Swiss pretzels, smell of fresh baked bread, and hot schwartz tee (black tea) to jolt one's frozen nougats. Schaffhausen - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schaffhausen

Rollover : Close-up of Schloss Munot (Munot manor) fortification on top its steep mount, grape vinegars harvested among its steep slopes. There are 4 big vertical shafts which links the roof (where canons are located) down 3 stories to ramp entrance level to quickly hoist up munitions and supplies. This place also called Festung Munot (Fortress or Castle Munot). My Switzerland Tourism - www.myswitzerland.com

Sociological observation, most Americans conclude Swiss are pure pacifists, hence can be easily defeated in battle. This notion quickly fades when one considers the Swiss Confederation was found in 13th-century devoid of aristocratic lineages that rest of Europe enforced upon all citizens (ex. US had to wait until 1776 before severing this class lineage with Great Britain). Multiple invading armies of past centuries, forced to transverse the nation's narrow valleys and mountainous terrains, were defeated by the Swiss. Even Germans in WW2 planning Swiss invasion routes, clearly understood that their Blitzkrieg tactic is totally useless in such layout. Visiting Swiss cities such as Bern - Luzern - Appenzell, and climbing steep inclines with my heavy backpack, I found myself panting and muttering "Walking like a damn Swiss mountain goat, no wonder no one could invade this country, too damn tired to fight after climbs like this". Then again, being from Texas, the state's hill country region is nothing more than gofer mounts compared to Swiss Alps. Switzerland - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland