Vaduz to Schaan in Liechtenstein, via Vaduz Castle and Wildschloss Fortress

(This post created on January 28, 2025)

Saturday, December 5, 2015 -- Liechtenstein is a tiny country (principality – i.e. ruled by a prince) just to the East of Switzerland. The Rhine River forms the border between Eastern Switzerland and Western Lichtenstein on its way North to Lake Constance. Liechtenstein is only 25 km long and has a total area of 160 km²!

We traveled to the capital city of this tiny country (Vaduz) mainly to see the Vaduz Castle, which gave the city its name. In my opinion, this city of 5,400 has little charm, but seems to like modern art and architecture. The attraction to tourists is surely that it’s the main town in such a tiny country. 

Because the Vaduz Castle (dating from approx. the 14th century and containing 130 rooms) is the home of Prince Hans-Adam II and his family, it is not accessible to the public, not even the grounds. So after we walked up to and past the castle we decided to continue on up the mountain to the ruins of the fortress Wildschloss from where we got a great view of the Alpstein Massiv on the Swiss side of the Rhine River. From there we walked back down to the neighbouring town of Schaan. Altogether it was a 9-km walk with quite a large uphill section, with some very nice mid-December weather!

On our way north by train from Sargans, parallel to the Rhine River which forms the border of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, (we are still on the Swiss side here) we get a view of the "Drei Schwestern", or "Three Sisters" and Gafleispitz mountains, which is about the center of the country of Liechtenstein. 

From across the plain, we could see the Vaduz Castle, which was the main sight we had come to see on this day. 

We were headed by train to Schaan (in Liechtenstein) from where we took a bus to Vaduz. Across the plain we can just see the small fortress ruins which we later walked up to. 

Before heading up to the castle, we walked through the streets of Vaduz, the capital city of Liechtenstein. 

Along the main road, this view is the modern city hall building and Cathedral of St. Florin.

The Vaduz Castle thrones over the city from a cliff above the town. 

Before starting on our walk up the mountain, we got some fabulous Döner Kebabs to eat on a sunny city bench! It is now 12:45 p.m. 

According to the signs, it's a 20-minute walk to the Vaduz Castle, and and another approximately one hour to walk up to the ruins of the Wildschloss fortress. This trail is part of National Trail no.1: "Via Alpina". ALSO: A sign in the main part of town advises visitors that NO VISITS are allowed at the Vaduz Castle. 

It's December and there are blossoming trees here!

Some of the modern art in Vaduz, Liechtenstein.

Even some of the buildings are modern art!

As we head up the hill, we get a nice view of the Alpstein Massif. Right in the center is a passage called the "Saxer Lücke". 

We had taken the train to Schaan and a bus to Vaduz, and from there the walk up the mountain and back down to Schaan was almost three hours, and just over 9 kilometers. At 460 meters, this was quite an uphill climb. 

A view to the northwest over the rooftops of Vaduz, and across the valley to the city of Buchs on the Swiss side of the Rhine River. At the west end of the Alpstein Massif is Mount Säntis. 

This is the castle from the north side as we approach the site. 

Visitor information about the city of Vaduz. It is the capital of Liechtenstein and seat of the government, which is a principality (ruled by a Prince). As of 2003, there were 5000 inhabitants of the city. 

Additional information about the Royal Family that lives in the Castle. Prince Hans-Adam II is the current reigning Prince of Liechtenstein.

Another view to the Alpstein Massif in Switzerland, past the outer walls of the Vaduz Castle. 

From the castle, the site of the ruins is another hour from here, most of the time along Trail no.1: "Via Alpina". It's now 1:30 p.m. 

A look back at the Vaduz Castle as we continue up the mountain in the direction of the fortress ruins. It is a real shame that one cannot even go onto the grounds of the castle

As we head up the mountain, we get nice views to the mountains in Switzerland, on the west side of the Rhine River which forms the border with Liechtenstein. 

At 2:40 p.m. we got up to the ruins of the Wildschloss fortress, a little over an hour of uphill walking on forestry roads. 

Ruins of the Fortress Wildschloss in the hills above Vaduz.

Below the ruins of the Fortress Wildschloss in the hills above Vaduz. The view above is to the cliffs below Gafleispitz peak. We left the ruins shortly after 3 p.m., and descended back to the train station in Schaan (still in Liechtenstein), mostly through the forest, which took another hour. 

As this was a couple of weeks before Christmas, there were Christmas Market stands everywhere. Here they were selling toast with melted Raclette cheese, which Urs loves, so we stopped for a snack before continuing on to the train station!

Our ca. 3-hour, 9-km hike from Vaduz up to the ruins, and down to Schaan.

Location of Liechtenstein in relation to Switzerland. The Rhine River forms the border of the two countries there, as well as the border with Austria further to the north.