Liechtenstein — books & literature

The story of Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein's story starts with two small Alpine lordships: Schellenberg and Vaduz, part of the Holy Roman Empire for centuries. The House of Liechtenstein, a wealthy Austrian noble family, bought Schellenberg in 1699 and Vaduz in 1712 purely so it could hold a seat in the Imperial Diet. On 23 January 1719, Emperor Charles VI united the two territories and elevated them into the Principality of Liechtenstein -- a state created, unusually, to fit a family's ambitions rather than around an existing people or land. It joined Napoleon's Confederation of the Rhine in 1806, gaining sovereignty, then the German Confederation from 1815. When that confederation dissolved in 1866, Liechtenstein became fully independent, and in 1868 it disbanded its small army for good, declaring permanent neutrality. Economic ties shifted from Austria to Switzerland after the First World War: it adopted the Swiss franc in 1921 and joined a customs union with Switzerland in 1923. Since then, low taxes and a strong industrial and financial sector have made this tiny Alpine principality one of the wealthiest countries in the world per capita, while the princely family still reigns from Vaduz Castle above the capital.

Timeline — key moments

1. 1699

   House of Liechtenstein purchases the Lordship of Schellenberg.

2. 1712

   House of Liechtenstein purchases the County of Vaduz.

3. 1719

   Emperor Charles VI unites Vaduz and Schellenberg into the Principality of Liechtenstein (23 January).

4. 1806

   Liechtenstein gains sovereignty, joining the Confederation of the Rhine under Napoleon.

5. 1815-1866

   Member of the German Confederation.

6. 1866

   Full independence upon the dissolution of the German Confederation.

7. 1868

   Liechtenstein disbands its army and declares permanent neutrality.

8. 1921

   New constitution adopted; Swiss franc becomes the currency.

9. 1923

   Customs union with Switzerland begins.

10. 1990

    Liechtenstein joins the United Nations (18 September).

11. 1995

    Joins the European Economic Area (EEA) and the World Trade Organization.

Top 10 things to know about Liechtenstein

1. Liechtenstein is the world's smallest country to border two other countries (Switzerland and Austria).
2. It is one of only two "doubly landlocked" countries on Earth, alongside Uzbekistan -- landlocked by countries that are themselves landlocked.
3. The House of Liechtenstein has ruled since 1719; Prince Hans-Adam II has reigned since 1989.
4. Liechtenstein disbanded its army in 1868 and has had no standing military since.
5. It uses the Swiss franc, not the euro, despite belonging to the European Economic Area.
6. The country has no airport of its own; the nearest major airport is in Zurich, Switzerland.
7. Vaduz Castle, overlooking the capital, remains the private residence of the princely family.
8. German is the official language; most residents speak a local Alemannic dialect at home.
9. Liechtenstein is one of the most industrialised and highest GDP-per-capita countries in the world.
10. It is Europe's fourth-smallest country, covering just over 160 square kilometres.

Famous people from Liechtenstein

Say it in Liechtenstein's language

Did you know?

• ★Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan are the only two countries in the world surrounded entirely by other landlocked countries.
• ★The country's last military deployment, in 1866, sent out 80 soldiers and brought back 81 -- an allied officer joined them on the way home.
• ★You can hike across the entire country in a single day: Liechtenstein is about 25 km long and 12 km wide at its widest.

Liechtenstein culture

• Staatsfeiertag (National Day) on 15 August combines the Assumption of Mary with celebrations of the princely family.
• The economy runs on precision manufacturing and financial services rather than tourism or agriculture, despite the Alpine setting.
• Vaduz Castle is not open to the public -- the royal family still lives there -- but its silhouette anchors the capital's skyline.
• A local Alemannic German dialect is spoken in daily life, while standard German is used for writing, school, and government.

Why read Liechtenstein's books

With barely 40,000 residents, Liechtenstein has produced a small but real literary scene, from award-winning poets to writers reckoning with the country's unusual dynastic history. Its shelves are a window into an Alpine micro-state that most of the world has only glimpsed on a map.