Today we took a trip to one of the smallest principalities in the world...Liechtenstein. The reason...to get a stamp in our passport. Since I took 9th grade geography, I've wanted to go to Liechtenstein to get my passport stamped.
It takes two modes of transportation to get to Liechtenstein from Zurich. We took a train from Zurich to Sargans, Switzerland for an hour and ten minutes. Next we took a bus from Sargans into Vaduz, Liechtenstein for 20 minutes. Because taxes are very low in Liechtenstein, there are a lot of businesses based there so most of Vaduz was commerical and not very much to see or do. The Vaduz Castle, home of the Liechtenstien prince, overlooks the town but unfortunately is not open to the public. So after a stop at tourist info to get our passports stamped and a fun pic with a paper crown, we hopped back on the bus to Sargans and then back to the Zurich via train.
Liechtenstien is landlocked and located between Austria and Switzerland. The country is only 62 square miles and contains 11 villages. After WWII, Liechtenstein entered into an economic union with Switzerland and thus their currency is the Swiss Franc and German is their official language. It wasn't until 1984 when women were given the right to vote...can you image?
A little history lesson: the Liechtenstien family was very close with the Habsburgs (HRE...Holy Roman Empire) who granted the area principality status in 1718. It was not until the 20th century did the Liechtenstien family actually take up a permanent residence in the country. Having one's own country was more of a status symbol apparently.
Some pictures from our journey to Liechtenstien...
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