Vaduz Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in Liechtenstein and the residence of the prince, located above the capital of the principality - the city of Vaduz. There is no documentary information about when this fortress appeared. According to historians, this could have happened in the XII century, because it was then that the central tower and buildings in the east of the castle were erected.
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| Vaduz Castle |
Liechtenstein is one of the smallest microstates in the world and is located between Switzerland and Austria. This small principality has many historical sites, the most famous of which is Vaduz Castle. The fortress has become a symbol of the country and is one of the most important cultural sites within it.
Basic Moments
Over the centuries-old history, Vaduz Castle has undergone several reconstructions. Major alterations were carried out in the first half of the 17th century, when Count Kaspar von Hohenems ruled the surrounding lands. Under him, the western buildings of the fortress were significantly expanded. Large-scale construction work took place at the beginning of the last century under Prince Johann II, as well as in the 1930s, when Prince Franz Joseph II ruled.
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| Vaduz Castle |
Vaduz has had the status of the main princely residence since 1938, and since that time it has been closed to the general public. You can get inside the architectural monument, but only as part of rare excursions conducted by professional historians, and by invitation.
From the hill on which the castle stands, there is a beautiful view of the streets of Vaduz. For townspeople and tourists, the doors of the ancient castle are open only once a year - on August 15, when the country celebrates the Liechtenstein State Day. It is curious that the tradition of this celebration has become a colorful feast, which is held in the courtyard of the fortress.
History of Vaduz Castle
The first documentary mentions of the fortress appeared in the dedication of 1322, according to which Count Rudolf von Werdenberg-Sargans transferred the buildings to Ulrich von Mach. At the end of the 15th century, during the bloody Swabian War, the ancient castle of Vaduz was destroyed by Swiss soldiers, and it had to be rebuilt.
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| Vaduz Castle |
Representatives of the princes of Liechtenstein became the owners of the fortress in 1712, after they took possession of the county lands. After 7 years, Emperor Charles VI united the County of Vaduz and Schellenberg and formed a new state - the Principality of Liechtenstein.
During the difficult years of World War II, the ancient fortress gave shelter to members of several royal dynasties of Europe. After the war, an American journalist visited here, and he spoke of the castle as a communal apartment in which the aristocracy of Europe lived.
Features of the Architecture
The oldest central tower of Vaduz Castle rises on a base 12 by 13 m, and its walls are up to 4 m thick. The entrance to the fortress is located at a height of 11 meters. In the Middle Ages, the chapel of St. Anne was erected in Vaduz, and later its main altar was rebuilt in the late Gothic tradition.
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| Vaduz Castle |
There are about 130 rooms and halls connected by complex passages. The Vaduz castle houses a rich art gallery owned by the prince. According to art critics, this private collection is one of the best in the world.
How to get there
Vaduz Castle is located in the capital of the principality, at Fürst-Franz-Josef-Strasse, 150. Buses No. 11, 12, 12E, 13, 13E, 14, 21, 36E, 40, N1, N2 and N3 approach the castle. You can climb under the castle walls along a cobbled path that starts in the center of the Old Town. The ascent takes about an hour.