Cantons of Switzerland

The 26 cantons of Switzerland (German:Kanton, French:canton, Italian:cantone, Romansh:chantun) are the member states of the Swiss Confederation. There were eight lieus (or cantons) during 1353–1481, and thirteen lieus during 1513–1798. Each lieu/canton was a fully sovereign state with its own border controls, army, and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia (1648) until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848. From 1833, there were 25 cantons, which became 26 after the secession of the Canton of Jura from Bern in 1979.