Which small country is divided into the municipalities of Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz, and Schellenberg? Liechtenstein is.
Liechtenstein is divided into exactly 11 municipalities, and the listed names account for all of them. Municipalities are the country’s principal local-government units, and most consist mainly of a single town or village.
The municipalities are grouped into two historic electoral districts. Unterland, or the Lower Country, contains five municipalities: Ruggell, Schellenberg, Gamprin, Eschen, and Mauren. Oberland, or the Upper Country, contains six: Schaan, Planken, Vaduz, Triesenberg, Triesen, and Balzers. Vaduz is the national capital, but Schaan is generally the largest municipality by population.
Liechtenstein’s local boundaries can be surprisingly intricate for such a small state. Several municipalities contain exclaves, and some even include genuine enclaves. The principality covers only about 160 square kilometres and lies between Switzerland and Austria, but its municipal system preserves a detailed historical structure rather than dividing the country into a few large administrative regions.