By law, Swiss mercenary soldiers could no longer fight for other countries and were returning home to find their families in precarious conditions that could not support any more members.

The arrival of Swiss, Austrian, Italian, French, and German immigrants was important to the subsequent political organization of a country that was receptive to foreign influences.

There are several groups, including "Los Alegres Alpinos", and the "Alpenveilchen Grupo de Danzas", who still practice the songs and dances of their ancestors.

The holidays and festivities include: The city, though located in Uruguay, shares a number of features and similarities with classical and early modern European architecture, mainly those of Switzerland, Germany and France, as a result of its close link with the cultures and societies of those countries.

Unlike in other cities in Uruguay, every building bears a symbolic shield representing the different Swiss cantons where the family living in the house came from.

Nueva Helvecia also produces a variety of sausages and animal products, fruits and vegetables, cereals and wine.