Liechtenstein

At roughly 160 square kilometers (about 62 square miles), Liechtenstein is the sixth-smallest country in the world, and you can cross it by bike from north to south in a single day. A vacation in Liechtenstein is still well worth it, because between the Rhine Valley and the peaks of the Rätikon you'll find castles, vineyards, art museums, and a network of hiking trails you wouldn't expect in such a small country.

Vaduz and the Rhine Valley

The capital, Vaduz, has only about 6,000 residents but more culture than many a big city. Vaduz Castle, the residence of the princely family, towers above the town. It isn't open to visitors, but it offers a lovely view down over the Städtle. In the pedestrian zone you'll find the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, a black cube of basalt and concrete, as well as the National Museum and the Postage Stamp Museum, since stamps from Liechtenstein are among the most sought-after in the world. The Princely Collections are among the largest private art collections in Europe, though their main focus is at the Liechtenstein Palace in Vienna.

Vines grow at the foot of the castle, and the Prince's Hofkellerei winery presses Pinot noir. Farther north lie Schaan, the country's largest municipality, and the quiet Unterland with villages such as Eschen and Mauren. In the south, in Balzers, Gutenberg Castle sits on a rocky hill above the Rhine, which forms the border with Switzerland here.

Mountains and Hiking

Around half of the country is mountainous. From Vaduz, a winding road leads up to Triesenberg, where Walser settlers from the Valais arrived in the 13th century; you can still hear their dialect today. Beyond it lies the high valley of Malbun, a family-friendly ski area in winter with lifts reaching up to about 2,000 meters (6,600 feet) and a starting point for hikes in summer. The best-known trail is the Fürstensteig, an exposed path secured with cables along the rock walls above the Rhine Valley. If you want to get to know the whole country, you can walk the Liechtenstein Trail, which links all eleven municipalities over roughly 75 kilometers (47 miles). The highest peak is the Grauspitz at 2,599 meters (8,527 feet) on the border with Graubünden.

History and特色

The principality came into being in 1719, when Emperor Charles VI elevated the lordships of Vaduz and Schellenberg to an imperial principality. The princely family, however, lived in Vienna for a long time and did not move to Vaduz until 1938. Today Liechtenstein is a constitutional hereditary monarchy with strong direct-democratic elements. Since 1924 the country has formed a customs and currency union with Switzerland, which is why you pay in Swiss francs. It has had no army of its own since 1868. On August 15, the national holiday, the prince invites the population into the castle garden, and in the evening there are fireworks over Vaduz.

Food and Drink

The cuisine is similar to that of neighboring Vorarlberg and eastern Switzerland. The national dish is Käsknöpfle, small spaetzle with sharp mountain cheese and fried onions, traditionally served with applesauce. Also typical is Ribel, a crumbly cornmeal dish that was once considered poor people's food and is now served with compote or cheese. The wines from Vaduz, Balzers, and Schaan are mostly Blauburgunder (Pinot noir), which is drunk mainly in local restaurants.

Getting There and Best Time to Visit

Liechtenstein has no airport of its own. The nearest is St. Gallen-Altenrhein (ACH), but most travelers land in Zurich (ZRH) and take the train, about an hour to Sargans or Buchs. From there, regular buses run to Vaduz. From Germany, the route via Feldkirch in Vorarlberg is also convenient, where the rail line to Buchs crosses the country. Within Liechtenstein, a dense bus network connects all the municipalities.

The best time to visit Liechtenstein for hiking is between June and October, when the snow has melted in the mountains and the alpine huts are open. In the Rhine Valley, the foehn wind often brings mild summer temperatures of 20 to 27 degrees Celsius (68 to 81°F). Skiers come to Malbun from December to March.