Vaduz: Castle, Wine and Architecture

Vaduz Castle, Liechtenstein’s landmark, towers around 120 metres above Vaduz. But the city can also be discovered through its collections, buildings, wine culture and outdoor trails. These varied themes offer starting points for planning your stay around your interests.

The Castle and Getting Your Bearings in Vaduz

Vaduz Castle cannot be visited in person. The official visitor offerings include a 3D exploration and an augmented reality experience. Check the latest visitor information before your trip if you would like to use either of these digital offerings.

The Vaduz circular route of the Liechtenstein Trail starts in the city centre at the Liechtenstein Center. This provides a clearly identified starting point for getting your bearings. The Vaduz local bus may also be useful for planning: it is free of charge. Check the latest information about the service before your trip.

Collections and Architectural History

The Liechtenstein Treasure Chamber displays precious objects spanning five centuries; its collection is unique in the Alpine region. Adulf Peter Goop’s collection includes numerous works by Fabergé. This brings together a broad historical period and a particularly noteworthy part of the collection.

St. Florin’s Parish Church offers a different perspective on Vaduz’s architectural history. Its foundation stone was laid on 17 August 1869. The front-tower church was built in the neo-Gothic style to plans by Friedrich von Schmidt, the Viennese master builder of the cathedral. The date and architectural classification place the church building in a specific historical context.

The Red House is a four-storey residential tower with an almost square ground plan. The ground floor and the first and second upper floors are made of visibly hewn natural stone masonry. In contrast to the neo-Gothic parish church, its residential architecture can be considered in terms of its form and materials: the tower’s ground plan and stone masonry define the building’s description.

Wine Trails and Historic Winemakers’ Houses

Using twelve information boards, the wine trail in Herawingert explains how wine is made, from the vine to pressing. It passes Pinot Noir vines and ends in a varietal garden belonging to the Princely Cellars of Liechtenstein. The boards focus on the production process; the vines and varietal garden add a local viticulture perspective.

A tasting at the Princely Cellars of Liechtenstein offers a detailed insight into the world and history of princely wine. This is a different way to explore the subject than the educational trail: the trail focuses on how wine is made, while the tasting focuses on its history and world.

The Hintergass farmstead brings winegrowing together with older architectural history. Originally built in 1494 as a winemaker’s house with a wine cellar, it is now one of Liechtenstein’s oldest surviving rural buildings. Its rooms are available to the Vaduz Winegrowers’ Cooperative for tastings, courses and social events. Check specific event dates before your visit.

Green Spaces, Cycling Routes and the Old Rhine Bridge

The Gerberweg Nature Park is a simple park west of the Giessen. Meadows, trees and water define its character. In the pond at Gerberweg Nature Park, near the Liechtenstein National Library, stands Peter Hemmi’s sculpture “Blühende Sprache” (“Blooming Language”). Here, a named art installation sits alongside the park’s described landscape features.

Vaduz has numerous cycling routes through forested landscapes, along small rivers and past other natural attractions. These routes appeal to different interests than the collections and buildings: they pass through landscapes and natural areas. The Old Rhine Bridge is another distinct landmark. The covered wooden bridge connects Vaduz in Liechtenstein with the Swiss municipality of Sevelen.

Discover more destinations: Vaduz, Triesenberg, Gamprin, Eschen, Ruggell, Triesen.

Back to the main travel overview: Liechtenstein.