Liechtenstein Things to Do
Great views from the top of the Malbun chairlift
Malbun is one of the small towns in Liechtenstein's eastern highlands. It is Liechtenstein's only ski resort during the winter, but its chairlift also runs during the summer. You can take the chairlift up to the top of the mountain ridge that looms over the town. From the top, you can get some amazing views of the local mountains and valleys. It takes about 10 minutes to get from the bottom to the top on the chairlift
Drive up into the mountains
Although Liechtenstein is a small country, it has some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe. It largest towns, Vaduz and Schaan, are on a flat plain alongside the Rhine River. However, if you head east just a few miles, you enter some amazing scenery, with farms, small towns, and mountains. You can also get some great views of the Rhine River valley once you get up into th hills above Vaduz.
The Liectenstein National Museum
Liechtenstein's national museum is located in Vaduz, the country's capital. It is fairly small, but is worth a visit in order to learn about Liectenstein and its people. It has a good variety of collections, including exhibits about the country's history, its animals, its land, its royal family, and its economy. The museum also features a small, but high quality collection of art from the 1300s to the 1800s. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum has a number of rooms that host temporary exhibitions. When we were there, they had an excellent exhibit of Faberge items.
The National Museum
Adjoining building
The national Museum of Liechtenstein occupies more than one building in Vaduz. The buildings are bordered by the new parliament on the one side and the Information Centre on the other. There are 42 rooms of displays covering archaeology, protecting Middle Ages, ruling Modern Era, celebrating Ethnic Studies, creating 19th to 21st Centuries, Natural History. Opening times:Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Wednesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Prices: Adults CHF 8.- (2011) Students, apprentices, seniors and groups of at least 10 persons CHF 5.-Children up to 16 free. Annual passes, family tickets, combination tickets etc., are published on the Website of the National Museum. Guided tours:Guided tours by reservation, offer and price on request.
The New Parliament Building
To say that this is an unusual building would be to make the greatest understatement of the century. My first impression was that it was some sort of electrical sub station or similar. When I found out that it was actually the Parliament Building, I was gobsmacked.It would seem redundant to have a parliament in Liechtenstein because the Royal Family still rule completely and have the right to make or dissove the rules and laws almost as they wish. They can also dissolve parliament and appoint judges.
Vaduz Castle
Vaduz Castle
It's not possible to visit the castle, since it's still the house of the royal family. But it's possible to take a walk along the parks surrounding the castle, and to enjoy the views of its outside walls
The House on the Hill
The Prince's Castle in Vaduz
The castle of Vaduz is set on a hill overlooking the small capital town of Vaduz. It is not open to the public in general, serving as a residence to the Prince's family. The original building, erected on the site in the 14th century, was destroyed during the last Swiss independence conflict, the Swabian War, in 1499. It was completely rebuilt in the 16th century. The palace has belonged to the royal family since 1712, when Prince Johann Adam Andreas of Liechtenstein purchased the County of Vaduz becoming the castle's fifth owner. It was not the official home until 1938, when Prince Franz-Josef II moved his family from Vienna to Liechtenstein after Austria was annexed by Hitler.http://www.fuerstenhaus.li/museum.0.html?&lang=en for more on the history of the Ruling Family of the House of Liechtenstein.
Schloss Vaduz
Picture Opportunity outside the Prince's Castle
Though the castle is not open, you can wander close by, in order to take photographs and enjoy the view from up high here. There are also trails that wander higher from here, towards the Saminagrat, itself. The higher you go, the better the view. http://www.fuerstenhaus.li/museum.0.html?&lang=en for more on the history of the Ruling Family of the House of Liechtenstein.http://www.vaduz.li/ for information about the capital town lying below the castle.
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