General Information - Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein shares borders with Austria and Switzerland and lies between the upper reaches of the Rhine Valley and the Austrian Alps. The principality is noted for its fine vineyards.
Area
160 sq km (61.8 sq miles).

Population
34,294 (2004).

Population Density
211.6 per sq km.

Capital
Vaduz.
Population: 5,038 (2002).

Government
Imperial Principality with a hereditary constitutional monarchy. Principality established in 1719.
Head of State: Prince Hans Adam II since 1989.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Otmar Hasler since 2001.

Language
German; a dialect of Alemannish is widely spoken. English is also widely spoken.

Religion
Christian, predominantly Roman Catholic (78 per cent).

Time
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz. European two-pin plugs are used.

Communications

Telephone
Full IDD service. Country code: 423. Outgoing international code: 00.

Fax
Most hotels have facilities.

Internet
Internet access is available in phone booths operated by Swisscom. Charges are payable by phonecard or credit card. Public access is also available at the Telecom shop in Vaduz. ISPs include.
Telegram
Telecommunications are available from post offices and hotels. Service is reliable and efficient.

Post
Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1200 and 1345-1830, Sat 0800-1100, (Mon-Fri 0745-1800, Sat 0800-1100 in Vaduz). Post to European destinations takes three to four days.

Press
There are two daily newspapers, Liechtensteiner Vaterland and Liechtensteiner Volksblatt, and two weekly papers, Apotheke und Marketing and Liechtensteiner Wochenzeitung. All are published in German.

Public Holidays

Jan 1 2005:    New Year’s Day.
Jan 2:    St Berchtold’s Day.
Jan 6:    Epiphany.
Feb 2:    Candlemas.
Feb 8:    Shrove Tuesday.
Mar 19:    Feast of St Joseph.
Mar 25:    Good Friday.
Mar 28:    Easter Monday.
May 1:    Labor Day.
May 5:    Ascension.
May 16:    Whit Monday.
May 26:    Corpus Christi.
Aug 15:    Assumption.
Sep 8:    Nativity of Our Lady.
Nov 1:    All Saints’ Day.
Dec 8:    Immaculate Conception.
Dec 25:    Christmas Day.
Dec 26:    St Stephen’s Day.
Dec 31:    New Year’s Eve.
Jan 1 2006:    New Year’s Day.
Jan 2:    St Berchtold’s Day.
Jan 6:    Epiphany.
Feb 2:    Candlemas.
Feb 28:    Shrove Tuesday.
Mar 19:    Feast of St Joseph.
Apr 14:    Good Friday.
Apr 17:    Easter Monday.
May 1:    Labor Day.
May 25:    Ascension.
Jun 5:    Whit Monday.
Jun 15:    Corpus Christi.
Aug 15:    Assumption.
Sep 8:    Nativity of Our Lady.
Nov 1:    All Saints’ Day.
Dec 8:    Immaculate Conception.
Dec 25:    Christmas Day.
Dec 26:    St Stephen’s Day.
Dec 31:    New Year’s Eve.

Special Events
For a full list of events, contact Liechtenstein Tourism or Switzerland Tourism (see General Info section). The following is a selection of special events occurring in Liechtenstein in 2005:

Jun 24-26:    Verbandsmusikfest (band music festival), Eschen.
Jul 1-2:    Liechtensteinisches Verbandsmusikfest.
Jul 4-17:    Internationale Meisterkurse und Jazztage, Vaduz.

Contact Information:

Location
Western Europe.

Country dialing code
423 (Liechtenstein). 41 (Switzerland).

Diplomatic representation
Liechtenstein maintains very few overseas missions and is generally represented by Switzerland. For addresses, see Switzerland section.