Geocaching country souvenir: Liechtenstein

By Martin Kerstein
Nestled between Austria and Switzerland, Liechtenstein is 160 square kilometers (62 square miles) of beautiful countryside with an estimated population of 37,000. And while you may have seen images of picturesque Vaduz Castle, there are a few things you may not know about Liechtenstein:
On Liechtenstein National Day, August 15th, the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein and his son invite residents of their tiny principality to enjoy a drink in the garden of Vaduz Castle, the princely ancestral residence.
Liechtenstein’s national anthem, “Oben am jungen Rhein” (Up above the young Rhine), is sung to the same melody as “God Save the Queen.”
Liechtenstein is the world’s leading manufacturer of false teeth, accounting for 20 percent of the total sales worldwide.
Although Liechtenstein is the fourth smallest country in Europe, the geocaching community is very active. Here are three caches to visit when earning your shiny new Liechtenstein country souvenir:
Alte Rheinbrücke Vaduz-Sevelen
Traditional | GC5N7H7 | by Astvaldur | D2/T1.5

The last remaining wooden bridge to cross the Rhine in the Alps, the Alte Rheinbrücke Vaduz-Sevelen is 135m (443 feet) long and connects the Liechtenstein capital of Vaduz with the Swiss canton of St. Gallen. The cache is located on the Liechtenstein side of the bridge, but you might have to rely on your geosenses, as the bridge can interfere with your GPS signal.
Welcome TB-Hotel Liechtenstein
Traditional | GC6W3JC | by Die schwarze Wittwe | D2/T1.5

If you drive to Liechtenstein from Switzerland, check in to this conveniently located TB hotel. Park your car, take a short stroll to the cache, and discover or trade trackables. The key and instructions on how to open the cache are behind the hotel. Pro-tip: It’s not the barn you’re looking for.
Fürstensteig
Multi-cache | GC1WGCJ | by Lulch | D2/T4

This Multi-cache is not for the faint of heart. You should be an experienced climber to attempt this cache, as the path gets very close to the chasm in places. Make sure to take the occasional break to take in the scenery while you make your way to the top. The ascent covers a difference in altitude of 500m (1640 feet) and takes approximately one hour. Once you get to the top you will discover the cache and be greeted by a breathtaking view.
We announced five new Geocaching country souvenirs on Monday, December 4th. If you’ve already found a geocache in any of these countries, you’ll automatically receive the souvenir on your profile. Check out all of the geocaching souvenirs here.