Kal Korff

Lichtenstein: A Splendid Sight

by Kal K. Korff
Internationally Syndicated Copyright 2011 by Kal K. Korff - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Sandwiched between Austria and Switzerland is the tiny country of Lichtenstein, which is only some 160 square kilometres in size. You can drive through it in a matter of hours, even if you take your time. If you are visiting between Switzerland and Austria, it is highly recommended that you drive through this tiny country, which is certainly worth seeing. From the Swiss side, you will see breath-taking mountains until you enter Lichtenstein which is surrounded by them and is located in a valley. Lichtenstein is actually a small principality, protected by the Swiss. It has a royal family, and is led by Prince HansAdam II. Its Prime Minister is Klaus Tschtscher. Lichtenstein achieved its complete independence in 1866. With a population of only 35,000 people and this is for the whole country, Lichtensteins currency is the Swiss Franc, which has soared in value during the past few years. While driving from Switzerland into the country, you have to pay attention. There are no border controls, so if you ignore the signs, you wont even know you are in Lichtenstein. When visiting, it is recommended that you stop in the city of Vaduz, which is the national capital. It has a population of just over 5,000 people. There are many pleasant restaurants, as well as plenty of souvenir shops, carrying both wares unique to Lichtenstein, such as fine carvings and tiny postage stamps, which are prized by collectors all over the world; as well as goods typical to Switzerland. The food is delicious, there is everything from rich pastries to fine pastas, and of course plenty of meat dishes. The spices are mild as a rule, if you desire spicy foods youll have to wait until you get to Austria.

Vaduz is a small city, but large by Lichtensteins standards. It is recommended that you walk through the city to appreciate it. It doesnt take long, and its a good way to walk off that meal you just ate. Of course, no visit to Lichtenstein would be complete without seeing the castle where the Prince lives. Located on a hill, Vaduz Castle it is easy to drive up to, or you can park your car near the base of the mountain and walk up the windy road. Amazingly, theres no security there, no access control points, instead you can just stroll right up. The only guards which exist are on the castle compound grounds itself. The small castle is from the middle ages, and is worth the view. Lichtenstein is officially a neutral country. It has no military. The Swiss protect it. Ironically, the country is a very busy business hub. It has over 70,000 registered companies, twice that of its actual population, who operate their enterprises literally out of a mailbox. It is also a tax haven for companies, as is Switzerland itself. When driving either from Switzerland or Austria, take a day and spend it in Lichtenstein. After all, theres not many countries you can see in their entirety in just one day. You will have a splendid time and enjoy some great views. 1.0v1 Sep 25, 2011 Kal K. Korff is an internationally known author, columnist and investigative journalist.

Copyright 2011 by Kal K. Korff - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this content may be reproduced in any form nor by any means without the express, written consent of Kal Korff. Fair use, does NOT apply. By reading this document, you willingly agree to be legally bound by its terms and conditions. Violators of this policy will have a felony DMCA Copyright infringement notice filed against them with law enforcement. First time offenders may be fined up to $500,000, imprisoned for five years, or both. For repeat offenders, the maximum penalty increases to a fine of $1,000,000, imprisonment for up to ten years, or both. This is a DMCA protected document, illegal copying and/or reproduction of its contents are tracked on the Internet and reported to law enforcement for felony prosecution.

Copyright 2011 by Kal K. Korff - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this content may be reproduced in any form nor by any means without the express, written consent of Kal Korff. Fair use, does NOT apply. By reading this document, you willingly agree to be legally bound by its terms and conditions. Violators of this policy will have a felony DMCA Copyright infringement notice filed against them with law enforcement. First time offenders may be fined up to $500,000, imprisoned for five years, or both. For repeat offenders, the maximum penalty increases to a fine of $1,000,000, imprisonment for up to ten years, or both. This is a DMCA protected document, illegal copying and/or reproduction of its contents are tracked on the Internet and reported to law enforcement for felony prosecution.