Europe Recap: Liechtenstein

Continuing tradition, while we are on vacation this year, I'm sharing some photos and details from last year's trip. Last year, you got to see China while we were in Europe. This year, you get to see Europe while we are in India! 

One of my 2013 resolutions was to go to a new-to-me country, which we managed to do with ... Liechtenstein!

It was a lot like Switzerland.  Expensive, mountainous, well-kept. 

We went to Vaduz, the capital of the Principality of Liechtenstein, where the reigning prince lives and parliament sits.  Vaduz is an ancient Latin name from when Romans ruled the province, first referenced in documents in 1150.  The county of Vaduz was founded in 1342. 

In 1712, Prince Hans Adam of Liechtenstein took over the county of Vaduz, and in 1719, Emperor Karl VI united the County of Vaduz with the reign of Schellenberg, forming what is now Liechtenstein.  Lichtenstein's royalty traces back to an Austrian family of noble birth.  Prince Franz Josef II of Liechtenstein was the first to take up residence in the castle.  The oldest parts of the castle are from the 12th century, and it was extended several times.  The large round towers were built in the 16th century. 

We had to have Liechtenstein's own beer for dinner:

And check out their take of pizza:

This dude was rocking a floral jacket like nobody's business:

The Vaduz Rathaus:

The art museum was closed by the time we got there:

As was the main church in Vaduz:

 

So, mission accomplished, one new country for me in 2013!