Vaduz

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Vaduz

City centre (here with Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein)

Flag

Coat of arms

Vaduz and its exclaves in Liechtenstein

Coordinates: 47°08′N 9°31′E / 47.133, 9.517

Area

- Total

17.3 km² (6.7 sq mi)

Elevation

445 m (1,460 ft)

Population (31.12.2005)

- Total

5.143

- Density

288/km² (745.9/sq mi)

Time zone

CET (UTC+1)

- Summer (DST)

CEST (UTC)

Postal code

9490

Area code(s)

7001

Website: www.vaduz.li

Vaduz (pronounced [faˈduːts] or [faˈdʊts]) is the capital of the principality of Liechtenstein and the seat of the national parliament. The town, located along the Rhine, has about 5,248 inhabitants, most of whom are Roman Catholic. Its cathedral is the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishop.

While Vaduz is better known internationally, it is actually not the largest town in the principality: neighbouring Schaan has a greater population.

1 History
2 Landmarks
3 Museums
4 Tourism
5 Other information
6 Pictures
7 References
8 External links

Vaduz is said to be mentioned in historic 12th century manuscripts as Farduzes. It is however commonly believed to have been founded in the 13th century by the Counts of Werdenberg. In 1322 a mention of the castle is made, which was sacked by the Swiss in 1499.

The most prominent landmark of Vaduz is the Vaduz Castle, the home of the reigning prince of Liechtenstein and the Liechtenstein princely family. The castle is visible from almost any location in Vaduz, being perched atop a steep hill in the middle of the city.

The National Art Gallery as well as the National Museum are located in Vaduz. The art gallery (Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein) is a museum of modern and contemporary art. The building is an architectural landmark built by the Swiss architects Morger, Degelo and Kerez. It was completed in November 2000 and forms a “black box” of tinted concrete and black basalt stone. The museum collection is also the national art collection of Liechtenstein.

The Liechtenstein National Museum is showing a permanent exhibition on the cultural and natural history of Liechtenstein as well as special exhibitions. There are also the Postage Stamp Museum and a Ski Museum.

Vaduz has a lively tourist industry, despite being one of the very few capital cities in the world without an airport or railway station. The closest railway station is that of Sargans, a Swiss town roughly 7 km from Vaduz's centre. Vaduz has a very efficient bus network with frequent connections to Sargans and Buchs (in neighbouring Switzerland). Mobile tourist offices are parked in central areas during the tourist seasons, with officers guiding the tourists. The city has a lively country market selling unique handmade souvenirs.

The Curta mechanical pocket calculator was manufactured here by the company Contina AG Mauren.

Vaduz has also its local football (soccer) club, FC Vaduz which, as the other clubs in Liechtenstein, plays in the Swiss Professional League.

The city centre of Vaduz	Vaduz Castle, one of the town's primary landmarks	The Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein in Vaduz
Rheinpark Stadium	Closest railway station, Sargans