Bergamo, Italy to Innsbruck, Austria Alps Hiking Trip
August 4 - August 17, 2019
Page Four: Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein, officially the Principality of Liechtenstein,
is a German-speaking country in Alpine central Europe.
The principality is a semi-constitutional monarchy headed
by the Prince of Liechtenstein.
Liechtenstein is bordered
by Switzerland to the west and south and Austria
to the east and north. It is Europe's fourth-smallest
country, with an area of just over 62 square miles and a
population of about 38,000. It takes only 20 minutes
to drive through the country if you don't stop.
Divided into 11 municipalities, its capital is Vaduz,
and its largest municipality is Schaan.
It is also the smallest country to border two countries.
Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan are the only two doubly
landlocked countries in the world.
Economically,
Liechtenstein has one of the highest gross
domestic products per person in the world
when adjusted for purchasing power parity.
It was once known as a billionaire tax haven,
but is no longer on any blacklists of uncooperative
tax haven countries. Liechtenstein is mountainous,
making it a winter sport destination. The country
has a strong financial sector centered in Vaduz. Liechtenstein
is a member of the United Nations, the European Free Trade
Association, and the Council of Europe, and although not a member
of the European Union, it participates in both the Schengen Area
and the European Economic Area. It has a customs union
and a monetary union with Switzerland. Since it has more
jobs than people, many people from Austria and Switzerland
commute the 20 minutes or so to Liechtenstein to work.
The next day, we drove to Sargans, Switzerland; then started
hiking into the country of Liechtenstein. Here Pat is standing
in
Switzerland and Liechtenstein on the border marker.
We hiked toward Balzers, Liechtenstein and Gutenberg
Castle, seen in the distance. The Church of St.
Nicholas is on
the right.
Liechtenstein flag hanging on a home.
Gutenberg Castle with vineyards below.
Gutenberg Castle is a preserved castle in Balzers,
Liechtenstein. It is one of the 5 castles
of the principality and 1 of 2 that have
survived preserved until the present day.
View of Balzers area on way up to the castle.
After viewing the exterior of the castle, we hiked
to Triesenberg. You can see the
Gutenberg Castle on the right.
Seen along the way.
That evening in Vaduz, capital of Liechtenstein, we had a
wine tasting at the Hofkellerei, wine cellar of the Prince of
Liechtenstein, who lives in Vaduz. After tasting 8 wines, we
had dinner at the Prince's restaurant. Unfortunately,
he wasn't
there.
Gianluca, Jeff, and James outside the Hofkellerei.
They have on
the Liechtenstein caps we
bought before the winetasting.
Downtown Vaduz
A local guide took us on a walking tour of Vaduz.
The City Hall in Vaduz on a pedestrian
street near our hotel.
Floral display in front of a home in Vaduz.
The oldest home in Vaduz
Looking at Vaduz area while hiking up
to the Prince's castle home.
Vaduz Castle is the palace and official residence
of the Prince of
Liechtenstein. The castle overlooks
Vaduz from an adjacent
hilltop.
Vaduz Castle from our hiking trail. The castle
is not open to the
public as the
princely family still lives in the castle.
Part of the trail near the Castle
Later we drove to Malbun, Liechtenstein,
a mountain resort area.
Here is a view from our bus of the Rhine River.
We took a cable car up high to hike above a valley,
then hiked
from there back down into
Malbun. Looking toward the Swiss
Alps.
Looking toward the Austrian Alps.
Jeff at highest point in Liechtenstein
Looking toward Malbun.
Marmot
Seen on the way back into Malbun
Back in Vaduz. The Prince's Castle
overlooking the town.
Link to Page Five - Innsbruck, Austria
Pat's Home Page