The first was Liechtenstein, the sixth smallest country in the world. Nestled between Switzerland and Austria, most tourists don't make it to Liechtenstein....or even know it's a country for that matter!
The capital city of Vaduz is surrounded by the Alps. What a view to wake up to every morning!
We ate lunch at the Gasthof Au. We quickly realized how accurate the guide books were when they said that Liechtenstein was very expensive compared to most of central Europe. Even a simple lunch here costs as much as a fancy restaurant in Germany!
 |
| Enjoying good German beer in Liechtenstein |
Chris enjoyed a pasta dish with beef while I had my first bowl of fresh white asparagus soup for the season.
We walked a short 5 minute walk to downtown Vaduz. About 37,000 people live in Liechtenstein, and only about 5,000 people live in the capital city.
 |
| Government building |
 |
| A view of the main street in Vaduz |
The tourist information center allowed anyone to sit in a throne and be queen for a moment!
Chris insisted on taking a picture with the fancy fire hydrant!
One of the only things Liechtenstein is somewhat famous for is their finely engraved postage stamps. They even have a tiny museum dedicated to the postage stamp! Stamps provide 25% of the government's income.
 |
| Some examples of Liechtenstein stamps |
There was a little lookout point that displayed gorgeous views of the capital below.
We could see the prince's private vineyards from our view.
Vaduz Castle dates back to the 12th century. It is inhabited by Prince Hans-Adam II. He wields more real political power in his realm than any other member of European royalty.
 |
| The prince's garden |
 |
| View of the Alps from outside the castle |
 |
| Chris' pricey schnitzel |
 |
| My baked chicken and asparagus risotto |
On our way to Lindau, we stopped in Bregenz, Austria. Located on the Lake Constance, it is famous for the Seebühne, a floating concert stage. The stage is used as part of the Bregenz arts festival held every summer.
Our final stop was Lindau, Germany. In Roman times it was a fishing settlement; the first historic records of the town date from 882 A.D. The old town is located on an island, only accessible by one bridge or a train.
The Old Town Hall was one of the first impressive buildings we saw, with beautiful murals painted on the side.
We had lunch at the "Zum Altes Rathaus" and enjoyed a light lunch of local seafood.
The most recognizable scene in Lindau is the harbor. On the right is the "new" lighthouse built in 1856 and on the left is the Lion of Bavaria.
The weather was less than desirable, but we braved the rain and wind to get a closer look at the lighthouse.
A marble Lion of Bavaria watches over the harbor and is the symbol of Lindau.
You can take a ferry around Lake Constance and visit towns in both Austria and Switzerland. Lake Constance is one of the largest lakes in Europe and is unique in that 3 countries share its waters.
The Mangturm, the "old" lighthouse, was built in the 13th century and is a prominent part of the former city fortification.
Since Lindau is an island, space is limited, but locals still find a way to make their gardens look beautiful and abundant!
We stumbled across a Giant Sequoia tree that apparently was a gift from California.
The two main churches in Lindau stand side by side. On the left is the Protestant Church of St. Stephan, built in the 12th century. On the right is the Catholic Church of St. Mary, completed in 1752.
We happened to walk into the Catholic church right before a organ concert began, so we were able to hear a little bit of the show. We sat beneath the organ, and the sound was so loud it literally made the seats and floor vibrate.
In the middle of the square with the two churches is a large Neptune fountain.
Right around the corner we found the Haus zum Cavazzen. It was built in 1729 and houses the town museum.
The Diebsturm (Thief's Tower) was built in 1380. It formed the westernmost point of the former city fortification and served as a prison and watch tower.
The Church of St. Peter has been a war memorial for citizens of Lindau killed during World War I since 1928. It now includes memorials for both World Wars.
A somewhat unexpected sight are the SS runes that appear after some of the victims' names. The symbol indicated that they were part of the Waffen SS, one of the main pillars of the Nazi tyranny. The plaque explains that while the church understands that the use of the symbol is controversial, "it is not in a position to assess the extent of the complicity of the individual fallen soldiers who are commemorated in the Peterskirche. Their names are intended to induce an awareness that all wars are pointless and are therefore to be prevented."
Another significant work within the church is the "Lindauer Passion", beautifully painted frescoes on the wall of the church.
The Lindavia Fountain is made of pale red Trent marble and was built in 1884 to commemorate the twenty-year reign of King Ludwig II.
After a downpour of rain, we ventured back out to get a better look at the harbor.
We spotted a swan sleeping in its nest in the corner of the harbor.
We ended our night with dinner at a Greek restaurant.
The next morning after breakfast, we took a walk around the edge of the island to do a little more sightseeing.
We thoroughly enjoyed the tiny town of Lindau and hope to make it back there when the weather is a little better!
The next performance will be Puccini's Turandot opera. The set looked quite impressive; we may try to make it back there for a show!
Our final stop was Lindau, Germany. In Roman times it was a fishing settlement; the first historic records of the town date from 882 A.D. The old town is located on an island, only accessible by one bridge or a train.
The Old Town Hall was one of the first impressive buildings we saw, with beautiful murals painted on the side.
We had lunch at the "Zum Altes Rathaus" and enjoyed a light lunch of local seafood.
 |
| Chris' shrimp skewers |
 |
| My Lake Constance whitefish |
The weather was less than desirable, but we braved the rain and wind to get a closer look at the lighthouse.
A marble Lion of Bavaria watches over the harbor and is the symbol of Lindau.
You can take a ferry around Lake Constance and visit towns in both Austria and Switzerland. Lake Constance is one of the largest lakes in Europe and is unique in that 3 countries share its waters.
The Mangturm, the "old" lighthouse, was built in the 13th century and is a prominent part of the former city fortification.
Since Lindau is an island, space is limited, but locals still find a way to make their gardens look beautiful and abundant!
 |
| Many houses have these unique architectural features on them |
Maximilianstrasse is the main street on the island and every building is unique and expertly decorated.
We stumbled across a Giant Sequoia tree that apparently was a gift from California.
The two main churches in Lindau stand side by side. On the left is the Protestant Church of St. Stephan, built in the 12th century. On the right is the Catholic Church of St. Mary, completed in 1752.
 |
| Church of St. Stephan |
 |
| Church of St. Mary |
In the middle of the square with the two churches is a large Neptune fountain.
Right around the corner we found the Haus zum Cavazzen. It was built in 1729 and houses the town museum.
The town was full of fragrant rose bushes, which made walking around these winding streets even more pleasant!
The Church of St. Peter has been a war memorial for citizens of Lindau killed during World War I since 1928. It now includes memorials for both World Wars.
A somewhat unexpected sight are the SS runes that appear after some of the victims' names. The symbol indicated that they were part of the Waffen SS, one of the main pillars of the Nazi tyranny. The plaque explains that while the church understands that the use of the symbol is controversial, "it is not in a position to assess the extent of the complicity of the individual fallen soldiers who are commemorated in the Peterskirche. Their names are intended to induce an awareness that all wars are pointless and are therefore to be prevented."
Another significant work within the church is the "Lindauer Passion", beautifully painted frescoes on the wall of the church.
 |
| The backside of the Old Town Hall |
The Lindavia Fountain is made of pale red Trent marble and was built in 1884 to commemorate the twenty-year reign of King Ludwig II.
After a downpour of rain, we ventured back out to get a better look at the harbor.
We spotted a swan sleeping in its nest in the corner of the harbor.
 |
| The Bavarian crest |
We ended our night with dinner at a Greek restaurant.
The next morning after breakfast, we took a walk around the edge of the island to do a little more sightseeing.
 |
| Part of the original town fortification |
 |
| A 3D map of part of the island |
wonderful! This is a part of Germany we never saw.
ReplyDelete