From Switzerland to Liechtenstein to Austria

Rapperswil

We say goodbye to our friendly Airbnb hostess in Lucerne and head out.

Our first stop is the hometown of our neighbour Stefan – our favourite Swiss person. The town is Rapperswil and is very pretty.

As we drive into the town, a castle looms up over a lake. “That must be Stefan Schloss”, John jokingly says.

The town has numerous churches and pretty squares while the castle (Rapperswil Schloss) and the Catholic Church take centre stage looming over the town from their lofty perch looking in the centre. The views from the castle are gorgeous.

On the way back down to the car, we check out a rose garden; not in bloom yet but I am sure it is gorgeous in the summer.

The town also has a really pretty waterfront.

Road to Liechtenstein

Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein, is just under an hour’s drive from Rapperswil. The mountain scenery along the way is gorgeous. We pass through numerous tunnels, one is really long.

As we drive through Switzerland, I am still two countries ahead of John on our country count; I am 89 and John is at 87…but that is about to change with arrival in Liechtenstein. John has never been to Liechtenstein.

There is no border crossing that I can see between Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Vaduz, Liechtenstein

In Vaduz the Prince’s Castle is poised high on the mountain, overlooking the city below.

We are quite confused with the parking lot but fortunately a group of young German men who initially were also confused, figure it out and explain it to us.

Vaduz is a small city. We check out the government building, church and Rathaus (city hall). We walk up, up, up hill to the historic Red House- basically a traditional house that’s been around a long, long time – since 1338.

Haus Gutenberg

 
We next drive to Haus Gutenberg In the nearby town of Balzers. The town is pretty and we walk up, up, up to the castle. We can’t go in but the views are stunning.

Click here for a short video of the surroundings.

There is a border area between Liechtenstein and Austrian but it is unmanned and no one stops.

Evening in Feldkirch, Austria

Our Airbnb is an inn in the small town of Feldkirch in Austria. After checking in, we eat outside in the beer garden of the inn’s nrestaurant. People nearby are playing boules.

We both order Austrian beer. I order spetzle which comes with fried onions and potato salad. Portions are so big that I can only eat a third. I take back the rest for breakfast. John orders schnitzel and struggles to finish most of it.