Liechtenstein
Fast facts
- Official language
- German
- Capital
- Vaduz
- Largest city
- Schaan
- Currency
- Swiss franc
- Time zone
- CET
- Drives on
- right
- Calling code
- +423
Facts from Wikipedia’s “Liechtenstein” page (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Liechtenstein (officially the Principality of Liechtenstein) is a country in Western Europe. It is the sixth smallest country in the world and, with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries. This means that it is bordered only by landlocked countries. Liechtenstein is located between Austria and Switzerland.
The official language in Liechtenstein is German. The capital of Liechtenstein is Vaduz, a very small town of 5,000 people. Liechtenstein is famous for its many private banks.
Liechtenstein is known as a principality. This means that the monarch has the title of Prince.
History
The territory that is now Liechtenstein was once split into two different states, the County of Vaduz and the Lordship of Schellenberg, which were both part of the Holy Roman Empire.
The Liechtenstein family wanted more power within the Holy Roman Empire. In the 17th century, the Holy Roman Emperor made Karl Liechtenstein a Prince. Karl’s descendant, Hans Adam I purchased the lands of the County of Vaduz and the Lordship of Schellenberg and united them into one principality named Liechtenstein.
In 1806, the Holy Roman Empire was broken up by Napoleon. With the fall of the Empire, Liechtenstein became a free independent country. Liechtenstein remained neutral during World War I and World War II. Hitler did have plans to invade Liechtenstein alongside Switzerland in the planned Operation Tannenbaum but never did.
In 1969, NASA gave Liechtenstein moon rocks and a national flag that had been on the moon to thank them for their support from a Liechtenstein company during the Apollo 11 mission.
Geography
Liechtenstein is located in the European Alps and is bordered to the east by the Austrian state of Vorarlberg, to the south by the canton of Grisons (Switzerland) and to the west by the canton of St. Gallen (Switzerland).
The Rhine forms the entire western border of Liechtenstein. Measured south to north the country is about 24 km (15 mi) long. Its highest point, the Grauspitz, is 2,599 m (8,527 ft).
Despite its Alpine location, prevailing southerly winds make the climate comparatively mild. In winter, the mountain slopes are well suited to winter sports.
Politics
Liechtenstein is a constitutional monarchy, meaning that the head of state is a monarch (with the title Prince Regnant) but has limited political powers. The Prince can veto legislations, call for a referendum, create new bills and dissolve parliament.
The legislature is the landtag (or diet). There are 25 elected members. The members of government are usually all members of the biggest political party.
Written for younger readers
Liechtenstein, in simpler words
This version comes from Wikijunior, a set of books written for children aged 8 to 11. It is shorter and uses plainer language than the article above.
From Wikijunior: Europe
Liechtenstein is a tiny country in central Europe and is one of the smallest countries in the world. It shares borders with Austria and Switzerland. The capital city is Vaduz. It is not part of the European Union and uses Switzerland’s currency, the Swiss Franc, as its currency.
Liechtenstein had many advances in the 19th century. In 1836, the first factory was opened. In 1861, the Savings and Loans Bank was founded, as was the first cotton-weaving mill. Two bridges over the Rhine were built in 1868, and in 1872 a railway line across Liechtenstein was constructed. Liechtenstein follows a policy of neutrality and is one of few countries in the world to have no army. In 1866 Liechtenstein became permanently independent from the German Empire and has been a completely independent country ever since.
In the years after World War II, during which Liechtenstein remained neutral, the country became richer because of low taxes and attractive laws for businesses. Today Liechtenstein is a tax haven with many wealthy people and big corporations having bank accounts in the tiny country. Liechtenstein’s people have one of the highest standards of living in the world. During the Cold War Liechtenstein remained neutral.
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Liechtenstein is the fourth smallest country in Europe, after the Vatican City, Monaco, and San Marino. Liechtenstein is located in the Upper Rhine valley of the European Alps. The entire western border of Liechtenstein is formed by the river. In winter, the mountain slopes are well suited to winter sports.
The highest mountain in Liechtenstein is Grauspitz at 2,599 metres (8,527 ft). Liechtenstein is one of only two double landlocked countries in the world (with the other being Uzbekistan); this means that Liechtenstein is landlocked (it has no coast) and all countries surrounding Liechtenstein (Austria and Switzerland) are landlocked too.
Only 36,000 people live in Liechtenstein. Its population is made up of mostly ethnic Alemannic, although its resident population is approximately one third foreign-born, primarily German speakers from the Federal Republic of Germany, Austria, Swiss, Italians, and Turks. Foreign-born people make up two-thirds of the country’s workforce. Nationals are referred to by the plural: Liechtensteiners. The official language is German. Most of the population is Roman Catholic but 5% of people living in the country are Muslim.
Because Liechtenstein is a small country there are not many tourists. Business people and wealthy individuals visit the country for financial reasons and some curious tourists come just because they want to visit one of the smallest countries in the world.
Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, the national museum, is a popular site for locals and tourists who make it to the country. Vaduz Castle (see the image above) and Gutenberg Castle are popular for cultural reasons and it is possible to go skiing in Liechtenstein’s high mountains.
Where this page comes from
The article above is adapted from “Liechtenstein” on Simple English Wikipedia, by its contributors. We removed reference markers, navigation boxes and tables, expanded measurement templates into readable numbers, and kept the prose otherwise intact. The simpler version is adapted from Wikijunior on Wikibooks.
Both sources are published under CC BY-SA 4.0, so this page is published under the same licence. You may share and adapt it, including commercially, as long as you credit the original and keep the same licence.
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