Balzers: Culture, Nature and Active Experiences

Historic buildings, nature observation and a range of activities offer several ways to experience the town. When planning your trip, the key question is therefore less about following a set programme and more about whether culture, the landscape, cycling or sporting activities should take centre stage.

Culture and History in Balzers

One of the notable historical landmarks is St. Peter’s Chapel in Mäls. It is one of the oldest surviving ecclesiastical buildings in Liechtenstein and is considered the centre of the Mäls settlement. The tower house, built around 1300, is also located in Mäls. It is the only surviving medieval secular building of its kind in Liechtenstein. Those interested in the development of historic buildings will find two different perspectives here: ecclesiastical architectural history at the chapel and a preserved medieval secular building at the tower house.

In Balzers, the parish church of St. Nicholas was built in the Neo-Romanesque style from 1909 to 1912. Mariahilf Chapel has been a listed monument since 1951. The Old Parish House hosts temporary exhibitions related to the local area and complements the historic buildings with an exhibition venue of local relevance. The Torkel building in Balzers is also notable: it is the last surviving building of its kind in the municipality and contains a complete historic wine press. The Balzers Mill is also the only mill in Liechtenstein that still produces flour continuously.

Nature and Landscape as Reasons to Travel

Those who want to include nature experiences when choosing accommodation can plan a visit to the nature and forest educational trail near St. Katrinabrunna. Gutenberg Castle Hill stands out for its diversity of plant life: 280 plant species are found there, almost one fifth of all plant species in Liechtenstein. The Ellhorn is home to the last natural stretch of the Rhine riverbank before the Rhine flows into Lake Constance. The Balzers Giessen are the last near-natural watercourses in the valley plain of Liechtenstein.

For a hike, Balzers offers the “Around the Ellhorn” route. The outer bailey of Gutenberg Castle is freely accessible all year round.

Cycling, Pump Track and Climbing

The Bike Skill Park includes an approximately 600 m long single trail with various skill elements. It runs through the terrain in the floodplain forest near the existing Vita Parcours. Mountain bikers and e-bike riders can train their riding skills there using elements of varying difficulty. The Bike Skill Park is freely accessible and free of charge for all users. The concrete pump track in Balzers can be used year-round.

This means that Balzers also offers opportunities for travellers who do not associate physical activity exclusively with classic hikes. The Ellhorn also has a climbing garden with various climbing routes graded from 5 to 8. The difficulty ratings are particularly relevant for your planning if you want to choose a suitable sporting activity based on your experience and interests.

As another destination for comparison, you can also take a look at Schaan.

For the higher-level travel overview: Liechtenstein.