Destination Overview
Liechtenstein is a mountainous little principality sandwiched
between Switzerland and Austria. How little? Well, you could
technically drive right around the edge of the country in about 8
hours, the total border length being 76km. The eastern part of the
country, the part that borders with Austria, is the highest point
with the peaks of Grauspitz reaching 8,527 feet (2,599m).From there, because of the small size of the country, ski
enthusiasts like to joke about riding right down the western slope
into Switzerland. Of course, this is not technically possible,
besides the fact that the slopes end well before reaching
Switzerland, the entire western border of Liechtenstein is made up
of the mighty Rhine River - impossible to ski over even in the dead
of winter. On your way past the lush Rhine Valley that makes up the
western half of the country though, a visit to the capital of Vaduz
will yield a handful of remarkable sights. The Vaduz Castle is the
residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. It perches atop a hill
overlooking the city and so has become synonymous with the town
despite the fact no-one is actually allowed to visit the castle.
There is an art gallery and the Liechtenstein National Museum which
draws the story behind how this interesting little country came to
be. Most of your sightseeing can be done by foot or on a bicycle,
the city is very safe for such activity and certainly small enough.
To see the rest of the country, simply rent a car.
