Can anyone tell me about Liechtenstein?

Question

...not sure where to go yet for the hols later this year.

Looked it up here and perhaps getting a travel book later on it.
http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkEHNEdKWT4UyjAxOpEElOUJ5wt.?qid=20061011123149AAOzxfQ

Answer 1

The sovereign shrimp, the little giant of Europe and the postage stamp state. Liechtenstein has may other din-dong designation about the matchless mini-state.

Pick up your valise, put a red circle on your map where the little Big L is and hie yourself to a country that is the size of a jellybean. In digression, it is a country officially at war for over a century with a country that no longer exists. (1)

Wedged high in a niche between the Swiss and Austrian Alps, it makes an ideal stage for operetta. Hundred and fifty square kilometres, this micro-Dizzyland is full of surprises for it has low crime, no proper: jail, radio or tv station, army, airport, golf course, customs officials and practically no taxes. Check with the consular before deciding on further trade. (2)

This explains why a sizeable number of foreign corporations set up headquarters in the capital, Vaduz, to escape higher taxes back home. (3a) (3b)

Contrary to what many visitors are inclined to believe, this place does not live from its sale of postage stamps. Less than ten percent of the country’s income derives from philatelic sources. The rest of its earnings come from a solid network of industry. More than six thousand people are employed in factories producing optical instruments, ventral heating boilers, cotton textiles, furniture, toys, leather goods, paints, varnishes, screws and dental items. The false-tooth factory, one of the largest in the world, ground out sixty million a year. (4) (5)

An independent state for over two hundred and fifty years ruled by hereditary prince and princes, they own a priceless art collection of over a thousand masterpieces. Many remain in this medieval castle ( of hundred and thirty rooms ), perched precariously on the edge of a cliff overlooking the main street of the capital. Seventy five of the best are on view in the white-walled public gallery near the post office and stamp museum. The exhibit includes canvases by Peter Paul Rubens, Pieter Brueghel the younger, Jan Brueghel the elder and other noted masters of the Flemish school.

Mostly unexplored and undiscovered is the Naafkopf Peak
( 2500m ). It is the only place in Europe where there is a piece of ground that you can sit down on and be in three countries at the same time: A wooden cross signifies exactly the same point where Liechtenstein, Austria and Switzerland, meets. (6)

This high hill plateau can be reached with a pair of hiking boots. Except for two stretches on the cliff hugging path, watch your footing. A full day is recommended in winter. Consider hiring a professional guide.

The town of Steg is less than ten minutes away from Vaduz by auto, slighting longer by bus. Quaint and mostly unvisited by tourist hordes, it is the starting point for various walking trails leading to the peaks of three mountains, The Three Sisters. During ski periods, the small lodgings along the way are always booked solid. (6)

From Steg, drive uphill to Malbun. Enjoy coffee and pastry at the sun terrace at high altitude with a spectacular view. About ninety minutes further ahead on foot, is Bettlerjohn Pfalzer Hutte, before reaching the peak of Naafkopf, converging the three countries. Clear weather permits a view of silvery waters of Lake Constance and Germany; no land elsewhere accords a view of four countries.

On the return trip, walking will take about five hours or take the chair lift from the terrace to Malbun. Provide ample time for the return journey before dusk; some of the tracks can be fairly rough.

There are around eleven parishes or districts, each with its own character and picturesque hamlets, driving from one end of Switzerland to Austria; Liechtenstein’s boundaries two large estates, Schellenberg ( Lowlands ) and Vaduz ( Uplands ), remain largely unchanged from the two areas that were enjoined in seventeen nineteen, as the Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein, with its constitutional monarchy and a democratic parliament. (6)

Of the eleven communities that were former Earldoms, Triesenberg is the largest. It has a strong alpine character and magnificient walks through the forest and meadows. Furstensteig ( Prince’s Climb ) begins in the town of Gaflei, maned after Prince John II. (6)

Schan, the largest second parish, used to contain much of the country’s industry. Theater am Kirchplatz sees international artists and has become the culture focus of the whole country.

The smallest parish, Planken, is nestled in woodland utopia and commands a marvellous panorama of the Rhine Valley. (6)

Triesen is regarded as the oldest, claimed to be founded in Roman era and home to several noble families. The old quarter of the village, nature reserve and scenically impressive lakes are worth a visit. Gutenberg Castle, Balzers, may be worth a look as well. It was open to the public then; do check to see if that is still the case. (6)

Eschen, main locality of Liechsten lowland, reveals excavations of a prehistoric settlement dating back to the New Stone Age. (6)

GamprinBendern, is another parish straddling two communities since around two thousand five hundred BC. Virgins’s Grotto is the country’s only shrine and on Kirchhugel ( Churchhill ), is where oath of fealty was sworn to the prince.

Schellenberg, distinguished by two castles of the Middle Ages, has housed a small community of people for over five thousand years. The “village of seven hillocks”, Mauren-Schaanwald has a bird sanctuary and a local nature reserve. Dotted with water meadows, Ruggell has hundred hectares designated reservation for flora and fauna not found easily in other parts of Europe.

Returning to the subject of being at war with a country that no longer exist, Liechtenstein’s inhabitants fought with Vienna in the war between Austria and Prussia. It was inadvertently not included when the peace treaty was signed; although Prussia was erased from the map of Europe, Liechtenstein has been at war with it, officially for over a hundred years.

Today, it is a place to get away from the usual hustle and bustle of European cities. However, success of ubiquitous global products and branding inadvertently brings about gradual homogeneity.

Answer 2

Liechtenstein, self sufficient principality, bordered on the north via Switzerland and Austria, and on the south and west via Switzerland. between the smallest self sufficient states interior the international, it has a finished portion of one hundred sixty squarekm (sixty two squaremi). The capital is Vaduz.

Answer 3

It's very tiny....a country that most people just pass through in order to say they have visited another European country. It can be very foggy there during the months of October and November. (Hard to see some of the beautiful structures when the weather is like this.)

Answer 4

Very wealthy country in the middle of Europe. Seems a bit boring to me compared to other places in Europe.

Answer 5

a good place to stop for coffee buy some stamps and move on. make sure to arrive afternoon as Vaduz, the capital is closed until noonish.

highlights are the stamp museum and the castle.

Answer 6

It's tiny and feels like a suburb of a Swiss city, which in a way, it actually is. My recommendation to you would be to go to Lugano instead.