 |
|
The
'Oberland' is the old county of Vaduz,
and encompasses the villages in the south of the country. The northernmost
village is Planken, perched on the mountain ledge under the Drei
Schwestern (three sisters) mountain, with wonderful views across the
Rhine valley to Switzerland, and on clear days, down the Rhine to Lake Constance
(the 'Bodensee').
Schaan
is the largest village in the country, and occupies one of the main transport
nodes, having the main railway station in Liechtenstein, and hosting the main
post-bus interchange.
Moving
south, you enter the capital of the Oberland,
and the modern country of Liechtenstein - Vaduz. As you enter the village,
you see the dominant castle overlooking the village. Most of the centre is
pedestrianised, and it is possible to walk up to the castle, although it is
not open to the public as the royal family are in permanent residence.
Further
south lies the village of Triesen, straddling the valley floor and foot of
the mountains, and the route up to Triesenberg which lies about 500 metres
above it on the mountain side. The views from Triesenberg are spectacular,
and they get better the higher one travels. On this road, you can reach the
unique Walser settlement of Steg, and further on, Liechtenstein's ski resort
of Malbun.
In
the southern corner of the country lies Balzers, dominated by its own castle
- the castle of Gutenberg. This was a highly strategic point in years gone-by
as it occupies the eastern bank of the Rhine as it swings north. A pass to
the north-east also allows access to Zurich, so this has been much sought
after over the centuries.
 |