Liechtenstein, the small Alpine Principality

A very small country. A miniature world for this principality that stretches along the Rhine.

24 km long and 12 km wide! A postage stamp, in the middle of Europe. And for good reason... its philatelic museum (therefore of the postage stamp) is one of the most famous in the world!

To the west the border with the Switzerland materialized by the course of the Rhine before it flows into the waters of Lake Constance, to the East the ridge line at an altitude of 2000m which materializes its border with austria.

Between these two natural elements, a small capital city, Vaduz, with its well-known banks, its small castle that dominates the city and its main street. Finally a mountain road that climbs steeply towards the valley where Malbun is located, a hamlet composed of chalets dotted between woods and pastures with a few ski lifts to spend a good weekend.

Le Liechtenstein is the only country that can be defined as entirely Alpine.

Everything is small, everything is clean, everything is beautiful, everything is perfect.

We are in a Principality – just like Monaco – one of the last European monarchies. It is therefore a Prince who governs in this little fairy tale country, or princess tale, perhaps one should say.

This small country with a surprisingly eventful history, which has found itself independent, partly thanks to the history of France (yes, yes, little secrets...), and which, after having become very poor after the Second World War due to assets lost by the princely house in Czechoslovakia, bet a large part of its economy on the financial sector, has succeeded in its bet and is today one of the richest countries in Europe. One of the richest and one of the safest.

AlpAddict in Vaduz — Liechtenstein landscape

You will have to visit the capital, Vaduz, with his princely castle which dominates the city in the middle of the vineyards. Then you will have to leave the main road which crosses the country in its length near the border to look for the castle of Gutenberg towards the south, from where you can enjoy a very beautiful panorama. Be careful not to expect to find a link with the printing press there… there is none!

Finally, like any Alpine country, Liechtenstein has its hidden treasures at altitude. And it is on the side of the valley of malbun, the only ski resort in the Principality, which you will have to climb to find yourself in the middle of forests and pastures, or a beautiful layer of snow in winter. We will then remember that this small country is stuck between Switzerland and Austria, the two most beautiful countries in the Alpine arc.

If you are passing through here, even if only out of curiosity, or because you like to get off the beaten track, come and discover the mountains of Liechtenstein which have given birth to many winter sports champions.