LIECHTENSTEIN

Location - Western Europe; Capital - Vaduz; Population - 36,000; Currency - Swiss Franc

From Zurich it's an hour on the train to Sargans followed by a 30 minute bus journey to Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein - January 2009.

Liechtenstein uses the Swiss Franc as its currency

There's fantastic views of Vaduz on the way up to Vaduz Castle

Liechtenstein is a wine producer and this is one of its vineyards. At the top right is the mediaeval red house - Vaduz

Vaduz has a population of only 5000

The Swiss Alps form the backdrop to Vaduz

Vaduz and the Swiss Alps as seen from the walking trail leading to Vaduz Castle

A great site in the Winter is this frozen waterfall, close to Vaduz Castle - Vaduz

My YouTube video here

A close up of the icicles - Vaduz

Next to the waterfall is this panoramic viewpoint - Vaduz

More scenes of Vaduz

Vaduz Castle, or Schloss Vaduz, is the home of the Liechtenstein royal family - Vaduz

The current monarch is Prince Hans-Adam II - Vaduz Castle, Vaduz

At the side of the road near the Castle a series of icicles had formed on the walls - Vaduz

Making my way downhill to the centre of Vaduz

I passed by this building on the way down. I've no idea what it is but it's mighty distinctive - Vaduz

Checking out Vaduz Castle from Stadtle, Vaduz

Vaduz Castle - Vaduz

In the Summer the trees are a riot of green and lend themselves to more spectacular photos of Vaduz Castle - Vaduz

Schloss Vaduz overlooks the capital Vaduz

The Rathaus (Town Hall) stands in the shadow of the Castle - Vaduz

It must be cold up there in Winter - paragliding above Vaduz.

If you can read German here's some useful sites -

www.schoenauer.li

www.fly-montalin.ch

www.saar.ch

www.flyy.ch

'African King' bronze sculpture, Vaduz

I stumbled across this covered wooden bridge which links Vaduz to Sevelen in Switzerland, crossing the Rhine river - Vaduz

The bridge is used by pedestrians, cyclists (and horses of course) - Vaduz

A series of canals flow parallel to the Rhine in Vaduz

The Government Building with St Florin Cathedral behind - Vaduz

Anyone know what's going on here? As I approached they got back on their coach and were off - Vaduz

St Florin Cathedral, Vaduz

'Reclining Woman' sculpture, Vaduz

A few kms north of the capital is the village of Mauren

Mountains loom over Mauren

Heading south from Mauren brings you to Eschen

Church spire, Eschen

Another mountain backdrop, Eschen

Mountain scenery, Eschen

Vaduz runs into the sizeable town of Schaan

Crossing the Rhine at Schaan leads to the Swiss town of Buchs

A church at Schaan

Drive up the winding roads from Vaduz and arrive at Triesenberg

The town of Triesenberg

There's magnificent views of the Rhine valley from Triesenberg

The Rhine cuts through the valley in a U shape, beyond which is Switzerland and the Alps - Triesenberg

I'm guessing that the town on the left in this photo is Balzers in Liechtenstein - view from Triesenberg

An ideal place to admire panoramic views - Triesenberg

The following morning the valley snow had melted away - Triesenberg

Carry on gaining altitude and end up at the ski resort of Malbun

Malbun has a few short ski runs, a natural ice skating rink, hiking routes and health centres

The resort lies at 1600 metres above sea level - Malbun

Snowboarding down the slopes at Malbun

I decided to have a go at sledging down Sucka-Steg, a mountain found between Malbun and Triesenberg - Steg

A tunnel burrowed through Sucka-Steg, Steg

My YouTube video here

A section of the toboggan run down Sucka-Steg. A sledge can be hired at the hotel restaurant (pictured) for a few Francs - Steg

At the finish line. Tourist literature refers to this by the rather grandiose term of 'toboggan run' but it's fun all the same - Steg

..especially at night, when the run is lit up.
It's possible to get a bus back to Malbun (or Vaduz) in the evening - Steg

Website and content Copyright © 2008-2011 Mark Wilkinson. All rights reserved.

LINKS

www.tourismus.li - Liechtenstein tourist board

www.liechtenstein.li

www.youthhostel.ch - Schaan's youth hostel

www.malbun.li - info on Malbun, the principality's ski centre

www.about-liechtenstein.co.uk

www.lba.li - Liechtenstein bus network, in German only

I am not responsible for the content of external websites.