Liechtenstein

Alright, I will admit it, I only just found out about the validity of the Principality of Liechtenstein. I had assumed that it was a fictional place made popular by Heath Ledger's character in "A Knight's Tale". How wrong I was.

The fourth smallest country in Europe, the Principality of Liechtenstein is a constitutional monarchy wedged between Switzerland and Austria. The Three Sisters Mountains form a natural border between Liechtenstein and Austria. It is mostly German speaking and has adopted much of the German culture. It is known both as a winter sports wonderland and as a tax haven. However, it is not as developed as some other countries such as Monaco. Its national day is actually August 15. Happy Liechtenstein day!!

The main landmark of Vaduz is Vaduz Castle. It is a medieval fortress with parts dating back to the 12th century. It was restored in 1905 and is now sadly the home of the Princely family (since 1938) and therefore not open to the public.

There is a very rich cultural life with various concerts and classes throughout the year.

Malbun is the main ski hub of Liechtenstein. This resort only has 12 hotels nearby, but there are some furter out to be snagged. The main ski season is from December to March, with the best deals before Christmas and New Years. THe best way to get there is to fly into Zurich where you can catch a bus or a train.