The principality of Liechtenstein ( Fürstentum Liechtenstein in German; API: /li: çtənʃtaɪn/) is small a State of Central Europe located between the Suisse and the Austria.
With a surface of only 160,5 km ², it is the fourth smaller European State after the the Vatican, Monaco and San Marino.
History
See also: History of Liechtenstein
The current territory of Liechtenstein constituted formerly a small portion of the Roman province of Rhétie. During centuries, this ground geographically remained far away from the strategic interests European. Before the advent of the current dynasty, the area was pledged with a branch of the family of the Habsbourg.
The dynasty of Liechtenstein draws its name from the Château of Liechtenstein, a building located further in Austria and having belonged to the family of the year 1140 to the 13th century, before returning to him definitively in 1807. During centuries, Liechtenstein entered in possession of vast domains, in particular in Moravie, Low-Austria and Styrie, without however escaping the supervision from higher lords, for the majority of Habsbourg and to which the princes of Liechtenstein offered their services of advisers. Thus, without any territory held directly under the aegis of the Emperor, the dynasty of Liechtenstein could not fill the requirements to sit at the Diète.
The family, eager to increase her capacity by obtaining a seat, put all works about it to acquire grounds known as immediate ( unmittelbar ), i.e. having of other Suzerain only the emperor himself. Liechtenstein, after long negotiations, were authorized to buy the two tiny counties of Schellenberg and Vaduz in Habsbourg, respectively in 1699 and 1712.
These two small pieces answering the required criteria, the emperor Charles VI unified them and raised them the January 23rd 1719 with the row of principality, which was baptized Liechtenstein in the honor of his new prince, Anton Florian of Liechtenstein. It is on this date that Liechtenstein became a Sovereign state within the framework of the Saint Empire. The Political transaction having been purely , the princes of Liechtenstein would not go on their new ground before several decades.
In 1806, the Saint Empire was invaded by the France. This event had important consequences for Liechtenstein: the old political structures and administrative were surbedded quickly following the abdication of the emperor, and the empire itself was dissolves by Napoleon. So Liechtenstein was untied of any obligation of obedience to an external power and became truly independent. Consequently, it aligned its interests on those of the Austria. Liechtenstein is one of the two principalities concerned with the Saint Worsens Roman Germanic (with the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg) to remain still today. Reconversion: in 1917, the Germans had projected to make of Liechtenstein a pontifical State, the pope giving up the Vatican; the plan failed.
During the Second world war, Liechtenstein remained neutral and the family goods being located in the zones of combat were repatriated in the principality or with London, to be preserved in sure place. With end of conflict, Czechoslovakia and Poland annexed several grounds German, which had as a consequence of exproprier Liechtenstein of the totality of their hereditary possessions in Bohemia, in Moravie (mainly with Lednice and Valtice whose parks and castle are registered with the World heritage UNESCO) and in Silesia (the princes of the family lived with Vienna until in 1938). Expropriations carried on thousand six hundred square kilometers of forest grounds and agricultural, like on several castles and palates family, and are still today the negotiation object to the the International Court of Justice. The tension on this subject was such during the Cold war that the Czechoslovakian authorities prohibited the entry of the territory to the citizens of Liechtenstein.
The financial problems encountered by the family after the war forced it to demolish several istic treasures Art, in particular of the Ginevra de Benci of Léonard de Vinci, bought by the government of the the United States. Economic devastation inflicted by the world war forced the small country in addition to approach the Suisse, to conclude with it a monetary and customs union.
These efforts were rewarded, and the country developed consequently with a great speed. During following decades, the principality entered one era of prosperity and economic modernization, grace in particular to the introduction of tax conditions advantageous which attracted many companies. The prince of Liechtenstein counts today among the richest Heads of the States of the world, with a fortune estimated at 4,5 billion dollars. The population of the country also profits from one of the highest standards of living of planet.
Policy
See also: Political of Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is a Démocratie Parlement surface currently directed by the prince ( Fürst ) Hans-Adam II, which is assembled on the throne with died of his/her father in 1989. The Landtag , the Parliament of Liechtenstein, is composed of 25 deputies elected by the citizens. A government of five ministers ensures the management of the go concern.
At the time of a Referendum organized on July 1st 1984 and actively supported by the prince, the voters (up to that point exclusively male) decided in favor of the right to vote for the women, but only for the national polls (and not buildings).
Contrary to much of others constitutional monarchies, the constitution of Liechtenstein grants to the prince several capacities of real importance, which causes polemics regularly. Criticisms nevertheless lost much of their legitimacy since a referendum held in March 2003 confirmed strong popular adhesion with the current methods of the mode. Prince Hans-Adam and his family moreover had been ready to leave for Vienna if their constitutional prerogatives were called into question.
The parliamentary elections of the 11 and March 13rd 2005 made lose with the government of Otmar Hasler a share of its majority in Landtag.
Communes
See also: Common of Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is subdivided in eleven communes ( German Gemeinden in , or Gemeinde in the singular). The majority correspond to only one city:
Geography
See also: Geography of Liechtenstein, List of extreme points of Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is located in the the Alps, along the Vallée of the the Rhine. The river delimits the totality of the western border of the country with Switzerland. In the east, the Montagne S reach high-altitudes: the highest top is the mount Grauspitz, which culminates with 2599 meters. The prevalent winds coming from the south, however, tend to soften the Climat principality.
Liechtenstein is crossed south in north by the Samina, an affluent of the It.
In cold season, the slopes Neige use of the mountains are very appraisals by the followers of the Winter sports.
Liechtenstein, in addition to not having any access to the Sea, is surrounded by country not having themselves there no access, namely the Suisse and the Austria. Liechtenstein is the only country of the world with the Ouzbékistan in this situation.
The borders of the principality 77,9 km, including 41 km with Switzerland and 35 km are long with Austria.
Company
Demography
See also: Demography of Liechtenstein
Only two thirds of the population approximately (65,8%) are of origin liechtensteinoise. 20,1% of the residents come from German-speaking countries (10,8% of Suisse, 5,9% of Austria and 3,4% of Germany). Follow closely the Italy NS (3,3%), the nationals of the ex-Yugoslavia (3,3%), the Turks (2,6%) and other nationalities (4,8%).
Language
See also: German
In Liechtenstein, just like in the German-speaking part of the Swiss , the usual language is a dialect Alémanique derived from the German . German is nevertheless the official language of the administration. Liechtenstein is besides the only country of the world to have adopted German like only and single national language (the Germany and the Austria recognize several minority dialects).
Religion
At the time of an investigation carried out in June 2003, 75,7% of the population declared catholic confession, against 7% of Moslem Protestants and 4,2% of . 10,9% did not provide any answer.The December 2nd 1997, the strongly anchored catholic tradition principality was rewarded by the Pape Jean-Paul II, which set up the town of Vaduz in évêché. But this decision, made by the the Vatican without beforehand to have consulted or have informed the government of Liechtenstein, was strongly disputed by the population. The business encouraged certain catholics liechtensteinois, with the beginning of the year 1998, to found an association militant for a more open Église.
The goal of this erection in Archbishop's palace was to give a honourable exit door to Mgr Haas, bishop of Coire, very disputed especially in Zurich. The Swiss Constitution not authorizing (at that time) the Catholic church to modify the borders of the dioceses on its territory (remains wars of religion of the 19th century), the only means of detaching a piece of this diocese was to separate Liechtenstein, which of it was an any small portion. And so that does not resemble a sanction, Mgr Haas on this occasion is assembled in rank while becoming archbishop.
Economy
See also: Economy of Liechtenstein, List of companies liechtensteinoises
In spite of its limited small size and its natural resources, Liechtenstein profits from a prosperous economy, based on the open market and an high level of industrialization (industrial capital equipment, tools, etc). The financial sector of the principality, just like the standard of living of its population, can completely compare with the urban areas richest of its large European neighbors .
A Corporation tax very advantageous (highest rate is of 18%, the European average amounting approximately to 30%) and various other facilities encouraged nearly 74000 Multinationale S to be established in Liechtenstein, generally in the shape of a simple P.0. box. The principality draws 30% from them from its incomes. But the following the example of others tax shelters like Monaco, Liechtenstein recently multiplied the efforts to contradict its reputation of international center of the money laundering.
Liechtenstein, constrained to import more than 90% of its energy needs, takes part in a customs union and monetarist with the Suisse, and thus uses the Swiss franc like national currency. The principality is in addition member of the European Economic space (EEE) since May 1995, and the government seeks to harmonize its economic policy with that of the European Union. The Chômage, although having doubled since the year 2000, amounts only to 2,2% with the third quarters of 2004, which low constitutes the rate of all the EEE.
Culture
See also: Culture of Liechtenstein
The small principality offers an astonishing range of activities or associations Culture them and istic Art. The popular culture, in particular, is carried by a very active young generation having given rise to several groups of Rock or pop whose fame often exceeded the local borders.
Many associations have the role to organize exposures or other types of demonstrations. A national Museum ( Landesmuseum ), inaugurated in November 2003, came to be added to the other cultural institutions of the principality: museum of the Art ( Kunstmuseum ), museum of the Ski ( Skimuseum ) or museum of the Station ( Postmuseum ).
Single the Theater of the principality, the Theater of the Place of the Church ( Theater amndt Kirchplatz ), is with Schaan. But since October 2003, Vaduz also shelters the Kleintheater Schlösslekeller , which proposes concerts, numbers of humorists or representations of small parts. The principality counts several local artists recognized in their field, like the sculptor Georg Malin and the painters Bruno Kaufmann and Martin Frommelt.
Transport
The highway network of Liechtenstein, maintained well, is long approximately 140 km. There does not exist any Autoroute, and the codes of conduct, just like the control panels, are with some exceptions close the same ones as in Suisse. These exceptions relate to in particular the rate of Alcoolémie tolerated (0,8 per thousand compared with 0,4 per thousand in Switzerland).Liechtenstein, although having concluded a Postal Union with Switzerland, has of its clean stamps and its clean indicative telephone international (+423).
The principality counts only 9,5 km of railways, which ensure actually connection between the Swiss city of Buchs and the Austrian city of Feldkirch. The ways, for this reason, are maintained and managed by the Austrian railway national company, the ÖBB ( Österreichische Bundesbahn ). The public company Liechtenstein Drunk (LBA), inspired by the postal Because Switzerland, ensures the service road of the whole of the Communautés of Liechtenstein. The buses of the LBA also connect the principality with the Swiss communes of Sargans, Buchs and Sevelen.
A Mercedes 0405 was sold by the public company <
The national team of football of Liechtenstein is traditionally regarded as an easy prey for any adversary. Liechtensteinois however knew an exceptional week in Automne 2004 at the time of the matches of qualification for the World cup of 2006, by tearing off no one from 2 to 2 vis-a-vis the Portugal (in Vaduz) before triumphing over the Luxembourg by 4 goals with 0. It finished penultimate of its group of qualification with 8 points (no one against Portugal, victory against Luxembourg, no one against the Slovakia (0-0) (then second and without forgetting that the match outward journey had shown a defeat 7-0 of Liechtenstein) and a second victory against Luxembourg (3-0).
As country Mountain ux, Liechtenstein carries out good performances in the field of the winter sports, in particular the Alpine skiing: Hanni Wenzel thus gained two medals with the Winter Olympics of Lake Placid (the United States) in 1980.
On the whole, the sportsmen of the country gained nine Olympic medals (two in Or, two in money and five in Bronze).
Beats-smg: Lichtenštėins
Be-X-old: Ліхтэнштайн
Fiu-vro: Liechtenstein
Nds-nl: Liechtenstein
Simple: Liechtenstein
Zh-min-nan: Liechtenstein
Zh-yue: 列支敦士登
Sports
The teams of Football of Liechtenstein play within the leagues Suisse S. the Cut of Liechtenstein allows every year the best team of the country to reach the UEFA Cup: it is generally about the FC Vaduz, which plays in addition in second Swiss league, and which was its greater success at the time of the Ligue of the Champions of 1996 by beating the Latvian FC Universitate Riga by 4 goals with 2. At the time of the turn following, they met the Paris-Saint-Germain and were made eliminate on a score cumulated from 0 to 7 (0-4 in Vaduz and 3-0 in Paris).
Codes
Liechtenstein has as codes:
See too
External bonds
Tourism
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