Europe’s Liechtenstein claims Vaduz as its capital city. Vaduz sits along the Rhine River in the country’s western lowlands, beneath the Alps, and serves as the seat of Liechtenstein’s government and parliament.
The town’s history reaches back to at least 1150, while Vaduz Castle—first built around 1300—overlooks the settlement from a hillside. The County of Vaduz was established in 1342. In 1712, the Liechtenstein family acquired Vaduz, and in 1719 Emperor Charles VI united it with the Lordship of Schellenberg to create the Principality of Liechtenstein.
A common mix-up is confusing Vaduz with Schaan. Schaan is Liechtenstein’s largest municipality and an important commercial center, but Vaduz is the constitutional capital and political seat. Vaduz Castle has been the permanent residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein since 1939, although the castle is not generally open to the public. Liechtenstein itself is a tiny German-speaking constitutional hereditary monarchy bordered by Switzerland and Austria.