During my two-weeks business trip to Heidelberg, Germany. I decided to take a weekend road trip to visit a tiny country of Liechtenstein and a picturesque town of Luzern in Switzerland; making a full circle from Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and back to Germany.
Stopped at the Germany/Austria border. Before driving on Roads of Austria and Switzerland, your car must have Road Tax stickers. Even if you are spending a day or two in the country, minimum Road Tax sticker for Austria was for one week and for Switzerland, it was for one Month. Paying Toll tax in Italy was cheaper. Driving on Austrian Roads.Stopped for gas in Switzerland.Beautiful villages in the Swiss Alps.Almost there, Next exit is for Vaduz, FL – Fürstentum Liechtenstein. The town of Sevelen doesn’t have CH (Confœderatio Helvetica) next to it, as I was already on Swiss Roads.
Liechtenstein, officially the Principality of Liechtenstein (German: Fürstentum Liechtenstein), is a German-speaking country situated in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland in Western Europe. The principality is a semi-constitutional monarchy headed by the Prince of Liechtenstein. It is Europe‘s fourth-smallest country, with an area of just over 160 square kilometers (62 square miles) and a population of less than 39,000. Liechtenstein, along with Uzbekistan make up the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world.
Little History: The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. Liechtenstein was occupied by both French and Russian troops during the Napoleonic Wars and became a sovereign state in 1806. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to conclude a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. During World War II, Liechtenstein remained officially neutral, looking to neighboring Switzerland for assistance and guidance.
This was a day trip to Liechtenstein, arriving in Vaduz, the capital city and home to the Prince’s castle. I spent couple of hours in Vaduz, got stamp on my passport and drove around this tiny country. Liechtenstein is about 25 kilometers (15.6 miles) long , you can drive across entire country in less than 30 minutes.
Most of Vaduz consists of modern buildings, and it lacks the “old-world” feel of many European capitals.
Welcome to Vaduz sign on one of few motor bridge over the Rhine river, which forms most of the Liechtenstein’s border with Switzerland.Vaduz Castle, built in the 12th century, is the palace and official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. The Princely Family of Liechtenstein acquired Vaduz Castle in 1712 when it purchased the countship of Vaduz.Rathaus Vaduz or Vaduz City Hall, built in 1932, a beautiful building with impressive coat of arms.The Liechtenstein visitor center, you can get a stamp on your passport here after paying €2. There were few Souvenir shops near Rathaus.Another small shop in an old building near the City Hall.Looking southward at Vaduz city center. You can see Vaduz Cathedral (Cathedral of St. Florin), the center of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vaduz. Built in 1874 on the site of earlier medieval foundations, it has held the status of cathedral since 1997.A Hotel and Café near the Rathaus, you see EU flag though Liechtenstein is not part of EU. The Old Rhine Bridge (Alte Rheinbrücke), a wooden covered bridge over the Rhine that connects Vaduz, Liechtenstein with Sevelen, Switzerland. Originally completed in 1871 and replaced in 1901, the bridge is the last remaining wooden bridge that crosses the Rhine. The Bridge is now used only for Bicycles and pedestrians.Welcome to the Princely Wine Cellars of the Prince of Liechtenstein, you can see Vaduz Castle in the background.Mouthwatering grapes in vineyards of the princely winery. The Princely Wine Cellars of the Prince of Liechtenstein, has wine testing and a small restaurant.Wine Testing at the Princely Wine Cellars (Hofkellerei).Liechtenstein Bus, a bus company based in Vaduz, operates on a network of 13 routes throughout Liechtenstein. At Schaan-Vaduz bus station, all buses arrive at the same time, so passengers can quickly change between the different routes.Driving through Liechtenstein.Driving through Liechtenstein.Gutenberg Castle, built in the early 12th century, is an intact castle in the town of Balzers, the southern-most municipality in Liechtenstein. Gutenberg is one of the five castles of the principality and one of two that have survived intact until the present day.My ride for this weekend adventure.Driving back to Switzerland via Balzers-Trübbach bridge. You can see flags of Liechtenstein and Switzerland.The Liechtenstein Bus; n°11 runs from Sargans railway station to Feldkirch railway station via central Vaduz and Schaan railway station. It leaves from outside each station approximately every 20 minutes. A convenient way to visit Liechtenstein if you are traveling by train,Lunch time with a traditional lager beer, Krona, from Liechtensteiner Brauhaus.
After a weekend trip I drove back to Heidelberg, Germany for another week of Business Meetings.
In May 2017, 23 days before I was going to complete 50 years, grabbed an opportunity and took an early retirement.. Picked up a backpack and traveling ever since.. Love to travel around the world, experience different culture, local cuisine & drinks .. and take pictures.. so far been to 108 countries and still counting...
Window on the World 