"Liechtenstein: the Shang ..." a Liechtenstein Travel Page by Pieter11

Most of the people in the world don't know Liechtenstein and even if they do, they don't even think about going there. The few people that do visit Liechtenstein normally just enter the country, get their passport stamped and buy some poststamps, and leave again.

But during the days I spent in the country, I discovered a Liechtenstein with proud inhabitants, a beautiful old capital, a vivid social life, an own wintersport centre high in the mountains, and all over the country you cannot miss the great Alp-landscapes with spectacular view again and again.

It would be a great shame if you only visit the country to add another one to your collection. Liechtenstein is much more and offers for then enough to spend at least few days in the country!

Liechtenstein is situated in the heart of the Alps. It's locked up between Switzerland in the West and Austria in the East. The country only measures 24 by 12 kilometres which makes it one of the smallest countries in Europe.

The Eastern part of the country (about 2/3 of the surface) is dominated by high mountains. Very few people live here, but it is a beautiful area. The Western part is situated at the banks of the Rhine-river, and is relatively flat. This is the part where most of the people live and where the big money is brought in, especially by the numerous banks in the capital Vaduz.

Liechtenstein can be described as the Shangri La of Europe if you ask me. Just as the mythical "lost country of Shangri La", the country is situated in a valley where colourful flowers and tasty wine-grapes dominate. And in te Eastern part of the country you'll find another valley like this: The Saminatal in which Steg and Malbun are situated.

There is hardly any criminality registered in Liechtenstein, simply because even the biggest city in the country still only has the size of a small village. There is no army, only police. The people look happy and just like in a fairytale, the Prince lives in a castle high on a mountain top, overlooking the capital.