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Principality of Liechtenstein.

Communities in Liechtenstein : Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg and Vaduz.

Small country in the Rhine valley. Between Zwitserland and Austria at the old North-South route leading from the Boden Lake along the City of Chur to Italy.

Unique marsh landscapes, and an exceptionally beautiful Alpine landscape. Liechtenstein is worth a visit both in summer and in winter. Whether family, sportspeople, art lovers or gourmets: all are catered for.

Capital City of Liechtenstein : Vaduz


car hire, hostels, hotels, rental homes, tour operators, travel guides, transportation / traveling to liechtenstein

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Camping & Caravanning

  Camping.li
 Tourismus.li

Car Rentals Austria / Switzerland

 Avis
 Budget Rent A Car
 Hertz

Rental Homes / Apartments

 Tourismus.li

Hostels

 Youth Hostel Schaan-Vaduz
 IYHF - International Youth Hostel Federation

Hotels in Liechtenstein

 Hotel Tamina ****, Am Platz 3, 7310 Bad Ragaz, Switzerland, south of Liechtenstein
The charming new-art hotel Tamina is situated in the heart of Bad Ragaz. The public thermal bath "Tamina Therme", the beauty & wellness center "ad fontes", the golf courses, the cable car and bus station as well as different sport and shopping facilities are only some footsteps away.
The Hotel Tamina is situated in the holiday region "Heidiland". The story of Heidi, Peter the goatherd and Grandfather is set in this region. Bad Ragaz is Switzerland's oldest spa resort and has its own hot spring, which gushes from the Tamina Gorge at 37°C.
Some attractions:
Lake of Walen, Alps (hiking, biking, etc.), idyllic wine villages, golf, Tamina Therme, historic sites (castels, villages, etc.), wintersports, a.s.l.
 Expedia.com
 Hotels.com
 Hotels.li 
 Tourismus.li

Travel Agents / Tour Operator

 Rail Europe - Rail Passes, Train Tickets & Schedules 
 Select Travel
 Topdeck Tours
They take you to the most amazing places in Europe, their experienced tour leaders are the best in the business, and will help create the perfect atmosphere for a great holiday. Topdeck Tours encourage individuality, and the fun just flows naturally.




Travel Guides Liechtenstein / Related books

Books about Liechtenstein

Harry's Mountain Walks in Liechtenstein - by Lloyd P. Clark (Author)
This guide is written in English and German to give an introduction to the mountains of Liechtenstein; a tiny and unique principality that should be on every serious walkers list of places to experience. Venturing beyond Liechtenstein's surreal capital, Vaduz and straying off the beaten track it is hard to imagine a nicer and more scenic place anywhere in the Alps. Enough routes are provided to fill a two week holiday thereby allowing the walker to explore every corner of the principality.
The book provides route guides and hand drawn maps for use by walkers of all levels of experience enabling them to gain an insight into the varied and challenging mountains of the worlds' fourth smallest country. Ten routes are provided along with suggestions for joining them together to give longer tours or to shorten them if time or energy are limited. All routes are also suitable for fit and well controlled dogs.
Liechtenstein is a tiny principality bordered by Switzerland and Austria. Most tourists visit the toy-town like capital Vaduz and continue out of the country. The author hopes that this book will inspire readers to venture into the principality and to discover the impressive mountain scenery, the friendly locals and the fabulous refreshments available from the Alps. More than that, readers will discover unspoilt valleys, lonely mountain paths and exquisite alpine flowers accompanied only by the sound of the wind, tumbling streams and the squealing of the marmots.
Paperback: 40 pages; Publisher: Trafford Publishing (January 10, 2007); Language: English; ISBN-13: 978-1425109448


Transport / How do I get to Liechtenstein

 Airport Zurich - Zürich Kloten [ 115 km from Vaduz ]
 Airport Friedrichshafen [ 85 km ]
 Airport Altenrhein [ 50 km ]

 Helvetic  - Fly Luton to Zurich
Fly from London Luton airport to Zurich, Switzerland with Helvetic. New and innovative low cost carrier. Book now online.

 SBB - Swiss Railways 
 City Train
 LBA - Liechtenstein Bus Anstalt - public bus transport

 Online Maps [ Uni Texas - Perry-Castañeda Library - Map Collection Europe  ]


Links 

 Travel Insurance

 Tourismus.li - Tourist Board Liechtenstein
Adventure Holidays | Culture | Sports | Events | Excursions | Gastronomy | Accommodations | Group Travel | Specials | Media

 Vaduz - Capital City Liechtenstein
The National Art Museum Liechtenstein, attractive shops, cinemas, galleries and culinary spots in the pedestrian zone of Vaduz further enhance the charm and beauty of a stay in the capital of Liechtenstein.

 Balzers
In terms of history and appearance, the Castle of Gutenberg represents the center of the village. It is built on a hill and surrounded by the church, schools and the town hall.
Balzers is the starting-point for many excursions and walks – for example to the nearby Grisons.
 Eschen-Nendeln
Eschen extends from the southerly slope of "Eschnerberg" mountain to the westerly slope of the "Three Sisters" where Nendeln is located. Eschen offers a wide range of galleries to culture vultures. Eschen-Mauren sports center holds out a multitude of sports activities.
 Gamprin-Bendern 
Bendern is situated at the southern foot of the "Eschnerberg" mountain. When visiting the hamlet, it is the small hill with a presbytery (1539) and the church that catch the eye. Gamprin was first documented in 1045. A St. Mary grotto on the western slope of the parish hill is the only place of prayer of this kind in the whole region.
 Mauren
Mauren-Schaanwald is also known as the village with the seven hills which were formed by the scree and debris from the last glacier on the eastern foot of "Eschnerberg" mountain. Thanks to its privileged location, Mauren offers a wonderful panorama whichever way you look. From Mauren you can reach the ruins of the Castle of Schellenberg on foot in about half an hour.
 Planken - like Triesenberg, is a Walser community
With a population of 340 Planken is the smallest village in Liechtenstein. Planken is located on a sunny plateau at an altitude of 786 m/2,578 ft above sea level. It is high above the Rhine valley and at the foot of the "Three Sisters" mountain range (Drei Schwestern). From the village, visitors can enjoy a breath-taking panorama of the whole Rhine valley as well as of the Swiss mountains, from Pizol to Lake Constance which is nearby.
 Ruggell
To the north of the village there is an area of approximately 90 hectars/222 acres which has been declared a nature reserve [ "Ruggeller Riet" ]
 Schaan
The country's largest municipality is located in the "Upper Country" and forms the border with the "Lower Country". St. Laurentius Church, visible from afar, dominates the village. Art and culture play a very important role in Schaan. Thanks to the "Theater am Kirchplatz", Schaan is well-known throughout the country. The "Village Museum" offers interesting insights into the history of the village, and shows works of local artists within the framework of changing exhibitions.
Schaan has made a name for itself by being the stronghold of crazy carnival activities (Monster Concert, parade, Street Carnival). It attracts the local community as well as guests and visitors during the carnival celebrations.
 Schellenberg
Schellenberg the smallest parish of Liechtenstein lies in a hilly and densely wooded area. Its defensible location have been occupied since 3000 BC. Many of the small castles were destroyed in pleasant uprisings and local wars. Today you can visit the ruins of upper and lower Burg Schellenberg.
It is situated 700 m/2,296 ft above sea level and enchants visitors through its landscape and undulating and romantic hills and woods that offer a stunning panorama of the nearby alps of Liechtenstein, Austria and Switzerland.
 Triesen  - third largest municipality - south of Vaduz
Surrounded by beautiful countryside, it is located between the Rhine and Liechtenstein's mountains. The romantic village center and old houses are flanked by vineyards, and two time-honored chapels bear witness to the history of the place which goes back centuries.
 Triesenberg.li  - Immigrants from Wals established this settlement in 1280.
The two winter sports resorts Steg and Malbun belong to the village of Triesenberg. The holiday destination is turning more and more into a summer destination for families and is a popular starting-point for walks and hikes in the mountains.
In Triesenberg you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Rhine valley down and the panorama of the alps of eastern Switzerland.

 Bankverband - Banks in Liechtenstein
 Edu.li
 Christmas in Liechtenstein
In Liechtenstein, the Christmas season starts around December 6th or 7th. St Nicholas, usually a family member or friend in costume, visits each household to meet with the children [ to ask them if they have been good or bad ]. Then the children tell him what they want the Christmas Angel to bring them on Christmas Eve.
 Erlebnisorte - adventurous places
 Erzbistum Vaduz
 Gutenberg Castle
Gutenberg Castle sits on a hill overlooking the village of Balzars in the south of the country. Centuries ago it was manned fortification and the scene of many battles.
 Malbun
 News.li - news
 Radio Liechtenstein
 Ruggell
 Schaan Castle
Around 15 BC the Romans conquered the Rhine valley and built forts such as Schaan Castle to protect their settlers and also the north south road along the Rhine River from the Barbarian tribes to the north and east. Today the ruins of Schaan Castle, as well as Roman villas excavated in Schaanwald and Nendeln can be seen.
 Schulnetz - education
 Toeristical attractions in Liechtenstein
 Vaduz Castle
Vaduz Castle today is the official residence of the ruling Prince and his family. The castle sits on a hill over looking the Village of Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein. The Castle is not open to the public but you can climb the hill and get a good look at its outside and a beautiful view of the village and valley below

Cuisine

Liechtenstein doesn't have a recognized national cuisine, it does have a number of dishes native to the country as well as local specialties.

National Liechtenstein dishes: Saukerkas , a local cheese; several vegetable-meat soups; Hafalaab, a one-dish meal made from wheat flour and cornmeal dumplings, with smoked bacon or ham in a broth; schnitzels, smoked pork and sauerkraut stews; cheese, meat, vegetable fondues and a number of delicious deserts such as fruit-filled pancakes, rich pastries and cakes. Asparagus , one the most favorite vegetables in Liechtenstein, is carefully cut by hand each spring and served in an Asparagus Canapes appetizer.

Knopfli or Spatzli are dumplings or noodles with cheese, ham or bacon served in soup or as a side dish with gravy or a sauce. Rebi or Ribel , once a main source of nourishment, is made with cornmeal or a mixture of half cornmeal and half semolina. Rosti, a shredded, fried potato cake from Switzerland has a Liechtenstein version called Alperrosti. This supper dish is flavored with bacon or ham and topped with a slice of Gruyere Cheese and served with a fried egg.

Go for a complete description to Encyclopedia Liechtenstein

History of Liechtenstein

The history of the Principality started with the muncipality of Schellenberg which located on a hill. In 1699, Prince Johann Adam Andreas von Liechtenstein purchased the lands of Schellenberg, and 13 years later he bought the County of Vaduz. Only in 1719 did Vaduz and Schellenberg become independent principalities under the Holy Roman Empire.

Independence: 23 January 1719 (Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established)

Over the centuries, the valley that Liechtenstein lies in has been invaded and fought over by many different armies. Local rulers built castles to defend themselves against invaders and often against their own peasants who would rise up against tyrannical and corrupt rulers. Many of the local castles were destroyed. Two, Castle Vaduz and Gutenberg Castle, still stand today. The ruins of two others can still be seen at Schellenberg and Schaan

 Liechtenstein: A Modern History - by David Beattie
Liechtenstein - an Alpine curiosity? A haven for financial criminals? Or a success story in modern Europe? This book examines the reality behind the cliches. Excluded from the League of Nations in 1920 because it was thought too small, it is now an active member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe and other international organisations. Its history has been dramatic and precarious. Several times it was in danger of vanishing from the map, most recently in 1939. It has no natural resources beyond a hard-working and entrepreneurial population. Since the 1940s low taxes, liberal regulation and 'small government' have helped to transform it from an agrarian backwater into one of the most advanced high-technology industrial countries in Europe. Its manufacturing companies are important providers of employment to people from the surrounding region. Its flourishing financial services sector, although criticised in the past, is now better regulated than many others in Europe. Liechtenstein's constitution is a unique blend of strong monarchy, vigorous direct democracy and an active parliament. There is a tradition of robust political debate but an underlying desire to reach consensus. The result is a high degree of political stability, one of the preconditions for the country's economic success, high standards of living and welfare and flourishing cultural life. The book analyses the reasons for Liechtenstein's political survival and economic success. It ends with a study of the prospects for this many-sided mini-state as Liechtenstein faces the challenges and opportunities of a changing Europe: a Europe that might even have some useful lessons to learn from Liechtenstein.
Hardcover 250 pages (February 26, 2004); Publisher: I.B. Tauris

Music, Culture & Entertainment

 Liechtenstein Musical Company
 Liechtensteinische Gitarrentage
"Liechtenstein's Guitar Days" (Liechtensteiner Gitarrentage LiGiTa) take place every year. The concerts, dance events and workshops with international artists are a highlight and a must for connoisseurs of guitar sounds.

Web Portal / Liechtenstein Search Engine / Directory

 Lie.net
 Welcome.li - directory
 Suchmachine.li - search engine
 Telefoongids Liechtenstein - Phonebook
 Vaterland
 Web.li


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