LIECHTENSTEIN - LAND OF FAIRYTALE CASTLES
Separated from Switzerland by the Rhine River, Liechtenstein is one of the smallest independent sovereign states of Europe, along with San Marino in Italy and Andorra in the Pyrenees. The entire country is only about 26km (16 miles) long and 6km (4 miles) wide.
Capital: Vaduz
Official language: German
Total area: 160.475 km2
Population: 2009 estimate 35,789
With a history dating from the 14th century, Liechtenstein is a wonderful land of fairy-tale castles (one inhabited by the reigning prince), chalets decorated with geraniums, Rhine meadows, and small villages high in the Alps.
Liechtenstein seems to be the forgotten corner of Europe; this beautiful country is often overlooked, despite being more than a fair match for its neighbours.
In the summer, hikers and cyclists can traverse the stunning mountain ranges or valleys, while in winter these same areas offer skiing, ice skating and sledging.
Pretty villages with quaint chapels dot the land, while the capital Vaduz, with its stunning hill-top castle, has plenty of history, and shops, to explore.
With its intrinsic links to Switzerland and low tax, Liechtenstein's population is one of the most prosperous in the world, so you won't be the only one smiling when you're there.
In the summer, hikers and cyclists can traverse the stunning mountain ranges or valleys, while in winter these same areas offer skiing, ice skating and sledging.
Pretty villages with quaint chapels dot the land, while the capital Vaduz, with its stunning hill-top castle, has plenty of history, and shops, to explore.
With its intrinsic links to Switzerland and low tax, Liechtenstein's population is one of the most prosperous in the world, so you won't be the only one smiling when you're there.
Useful Info – Liechtenstein Holidays Liechtenstein is a Catholic country. On Sundays, only tourists can be seen on the streets. The citizens are very proud of their national identity and will feel offended if called Germans, Austrians, or Swiss. Overall, Liechtenstein holidays are well worth it!
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| Vaduz Castle, overlooking the capital, is still home to the Prince of Liechtenstein |
Music and theatre are an important part of the culture. There are numerous music organizations such as the Liechtenstein Musical Company, the annual Guitar Days and the International Josef Gabriel Rheinberger Society, which play in two main theatres.
The Private Art Collection of the Prince of Liechtenstein, one of the world's leading private art collections, is shown at the Liechtenstein Museum in Vienna.
Some of Liechtenstein's legends date back to the seventeenth century. During this time, a savage wave of witch hunts swept over the principality during the reign of the Count of Hohenems. One legend concerns a fiddler named Hans Jöri, who unknowingly plays at a party thrown by a group of witches. The witches vanish when he disobeys them by drinking a toast to his own health. After this he suddenly finds himself seated on a scaffold holding a bleeding ox's hoof—a symbol of witchcraft—in his hand.
In another tale, a farmer suspects that a witch's spell is preventing his butter from thickening. After he thrusts a red-hot pitchfork into it, it thickens right away. The farmer's suspicions are proven when he is then approached by a witch who has burn marks on her hands shaped exactly like the prongs of the pitchfork.
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| Baden Wurttemberg |
Baden-Wüttemberg is one of the states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It is located on the southwestern part of the country. Baden-Wüttemberg is bordered by Bavaria to the east, Hesse to the north, Rhineland Palatinate to the northwest, France to the west and Switzerland to the south.
Liechtenstein is famous for its finely engraved postage stamps, which are treasured by collectors the world over. The stamps illustrate the country's religion (predominantly Roman Catholic), monarchy, art, history, landscape, nature, and leisure activities. Stamps provide 25% of the government's income, and new series are introduced all the time. There's a postal museum in Vaduz, the capital of the principality.
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| Reutlingen |
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| Reutlingen |
Lichtenstein Castle neo-Gothic building is situated near the town of Honau Honau in the Swabian Alb in Germany. It lies in the Baden-Württemberg province, about 60 km south of Stuttgart Stuttgart.
On the place of today´s castle there had already been a castle standing in the 12th century. It was destroyed during the imperial wars. The former castle had not been restored and it had been gradually falling into disrepair. The premises were gained by a king Frederick I. of Württenberk during the 19th century. He transformed the castle into a magnificent neo-gothic hunting castle from light stone. Today´s owners are the descendants of the former king Frederick I.
On the place of today´s castle there had already been a castle standing in the 12th century. It was destroyed during the imperial wars. The former castle had not been restored and it had been gradually falling into disrepair. The premises were gained by a king Frederick I. of Württenberk during the 19th century. He transformed the castle into a magnificent neo-gothic hunting castle from light stone. Today´s owners are the descendants of the former king Frederick I.
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| Medieval castle of schlos |
