Liechtenstein, officially the Principality of Liechtenstein, is a doubly landlocked German-speaking microstate in the Alps, between Austria and Switzerland. Liechtenstein is a semi-constitutional monarchy headed by the prince of Liechtenstein of the House of Liechtenstein, currently led by Hans-Adam II. Liechtenstein is bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and Austria to the east and north. It is Europe's fourth-smallest country, with an area of just over 160 square kilometres and a population of 39,790. It is the world's smallest country to border two countries.
Liechtenstein is a principality governed under a semi-constitutional monarchy. It has a form of mixed constitution in which political power is shared by the monarch and a democratically elected parliament. There is a two-party system and a form of representative democracy in which the prime minister and head of government is responsible to parliament. However the Prince of Liechtenstein is head of state and exercises considerable political powers.
Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein and also the seat of the national parliament. The city, which is located along the Rhine, has 5,696 residents. The most prominent landmark of Vaduz is Vaduz Castle, perched atop a steep hill overlooking the city. It is home to the reigning prince of Liechtenstein and the Liechtenstein princely family. The city's distinctive architecture is also displayed in landmarks such as the Cathedral of St. Florin, Government House, City Hall, the National Art Gallery, as well as the National Museum. Although Vaduz is the best-known town in the principality internationally, it is not the largest; neighbouring Schaan has a larger population.
The Free List is a political party in Liechtenstein. As of 2023, it has three seats in the Landtag of Liechtenstein and is represented in five of the local councils. It was founded in 1985 and described itself as social-democratic and green.
Schellenberg is a municipality in the lowland area of Liechtenstein, on the banks of the Rhine. As of 2019, it has a population of 1,107 and covers an area of 3.5 km2 (1.4 sq mi)
Schaan is the largest municipality of Liechtenstein by population. It is located to the north of Vaduz, the capital, in the central part of the country. As of 2019 it has a population of 6,039, making it the most populous administrative district in Liechtenstein. Representing an important traffic hub and industrial location of the country, Schaan covers an area of 26.92 km2 (10.39 sq mi), including mountains and forest. It is a municipality within the electoral district of Oberland in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Schaan contains four enclaves: Brunnenegg, Gritsch, Guschg, and Plankner Neugrütt.
The House of Liechtenstein, from which the principality takes its name, is the family which reigns by hereditary right over the principality of Liechtenstein. Only dynastic members of the family are eligible to inherit the throne. The dynasty's membership, rights and responsibilities are defined by a law of the family, which is enforced by the reigning prince and may be altered by vote among the family's dynasts, but which may not be altered by the Government or Parliament of Liechtenstein.
Wolfgang Haas is a Liechtenstein-born prelate of the Catholic Church who was the first archbishop of the newly established Archdiocese of Vaduz in Liechtenstein from 1997 to 2023. He was Bishop of Chur in Switzerland from 1990 to 1997, after two years there as coadjutor.
The Archdiocese of Vaduz, which was erected in 1997, is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church which encompasses the entire territory of the Principality of Liechtenstein.
The Catholic Church in Andorra is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.
Vaduz Castle is the palace and official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. The castle gave its name to the town of Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein, which it overlooks from an adjacent hilltop.
Liechtenstein's one railway line is operated by Austrian Federal Railways. As such, it represents an exception to the more usual Liechtenstein practice of cooperating closely with Switzerland, as in the case of the principality's use of the Swiss franc as its currency and its membership of a common customs area with its western neighbour. The rail line carries international services between Austria and Switzerland, most of which run non-stop through the principality. Only one local train service stops at three of the four stations located in Liechtenstein. The S2 runs 11 times in each direction a day on Workdays connecting Buchs SG to Feldkirch. In addition, there are 9 long-distance international trains that pass through Liechtenstein. The line is also used to transport freight.
In 2020, 0.03% of the population of Liechtenstein were Buddhist; this is approximately 10 people. This could be the smallest Buddhist community in the world.
The Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Switzerland and Liechtenstein is an organization of five Lutheran churches in Basel and Northwestern Switzerland, Bern, Geneva, Zurich, and Vaduz (Liechtenstein). It was founded in 1967 and represented 6500 baptized members in 1999, decreasing to 3,794 baptized members by the end of 2019. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation since 1979.
Marco Schädler is a composer from Liechtenstein. He studied music at the conservatory in Feldkirch, Austria.
Alois, Hereditary Prince and Regent of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg, is the eldest son of Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein, and Countess Marie Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau. The heir apparent to the throne of Liechtenstein, Alois has also been regent of the country since 15 August 2004. He is married to Duchess Sophie in Bavaria, who is a member of the House of Wittelsbach, and second in line for the Jacobite succession.
The religion in Liechtenstein is predominantly Catholic, with a minority of Protestants, non-adherents, and adherents of other religions; it also has a small Muslim population, composed mainly of immigrants from countries including Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey.
Gutenberg Castle is an intact castle in the town of Balzers, Liechtenstein, in the centre of the municipality of Balzers, the southern-most municipality in the country. Gutenberg is one of the five castles of the principality and one of two that have survived intact until the present day.
This is an index of Liechtenstein related topics.
The County of Vaduz was a historic state of the Holy Roman Empire, now located in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Its capital was the town of Vaduz.
