For this one, get out your maps AND your magnifying glasses, because at just 62 miles of territory, Liechtenstein really is a place you could drive through on a dark night and miss.
The Principality of Liechtenstein, squeezed in a nook between Switzerland and Austria, is the vestigial remnant of the Holy Roman Empire, and came into existence in 1719 strictly so the landless Liechtenstein princes could get a seat in the Imperial Parliament. Being that as it may, it was nevertheless a historically sound land deal, because while the Holy Roman Empire dissolved in 1806, Liechtenstein carries on to this day.
But as a big FYI, this is a place that revels in being subtle. There isn’t so much as an airport or even a train station; you have to catch a bus from Sargans, across the Swiss border, to get to the place. Far from the frenzy of clubby London, Paris, or Rome, the capital of Vaduz rates more as a big town, and is classy, cool, chic, and perhaps little provincial, but above all, classically understated. This is where you go to get away from “frenzy” and “clubby.”
So what’s to do? Well, besides being in a city often described as having stepped out of a fairytale, with mountains all around and the Rhine running down the middle, Vaduz is surprisingly lively, and like a lot of Europe, very gay-friendly. A great way to get a feel for the place is a loop on the Citytrain, whose tour gives you all the background. Once you are pounding the pavement, the Städtle, the center of town is lined with trendy cafes, speckled with public art, and studded with stunning architecture, from ancient houses to the Tron-like Parliament building. The Fine Art and National museums are dazzling, the ruins of the Obere Burg castle haunting, and the standing castles of Vaduz and Gutenburg as impressive as any.
Being smack in the middle of the Alps, it is par for the course that snow sports is big (they have a museum for that, too), and Malbun, nestled in a vale south of Vaduz, is at the top of the piste. While you might think otherwise, Liechtenstein is deep in the heart of wine country. Blown by the warm Föhn wind, four vineyards dot the country. The best of the best is the Prince of Liechtenstein Winery, HQ of the Herawingert vineyards and whose terroir is perfect for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Strike a cord? Check out one of the world’s smallest countries at tourismus.li/en/ or contact Steele Luxury Travel to assist in all of your travel planning at www.SteeleTravel.com!