Have your camera poised to snap postcard-perfect pictures at Burg Gutenberg (Gutenberg Castle). Walk in the footsteps of Habsburg and Roman kings as you gaze in awe at the pristine surrounding countryside of southern Liechtenstein. Attend cultural events such as folkloric concerts and opera performances.
Find Burg Gutenberg on a hill 230 feet (70 meters) above the village of Balzers on land once occupied by Neolithic tribes. It started as a church and cemetery in the 12th century and later passed between the Lords of Frauenberg and the Habsburgs. Maximilian I, the Holy Roman Emperor, stayed here as well. Following a fire in Balzers in 1795, the castle remains were used as building materials during the village’s reconstruction.
As you approach the castle, pause to admire its storybook stone structure atop a terraced hill. The white stone and orange roofs stand out vividly against a mountainous backdrop. The courtyard and garden of the bailey present magnificent views of snowcapped mountains and lush valleys. Spot the peaks of Austria’s Eastern Alps and Switzerland’s Appenzell Alps. Look down on Balzers’ rooftops and out over the Rhine Valley.
Within the complex visit the small chapel and rose garden. During the summer months the garden doubles as an open-air venue for varied events. These include flower exhibitions, folkloric music, dance, interpretations of famous operas and contemporary plays.
The castle is open daily and admission to the bailey is free. The chapel and rose garden are open on Sundays, from May to October, and a fee is charged. Between May and October make a reservation to take a guided tour of the castle. An up-to-date event schedule is available on the castle’s official website.
Burg Gutenberg is about a 15-minute uphill walk from the village center of Balzers. Vaduz is located 6 miles (10 kilometers) to the north. Public buses operate frequently between Vaduz Post Office and Balzers’ Mälsner Dorf street. From here it’s a 10-minute walk. Visit the quaint Parish Church of St. Nicholas and St. Martin, designed by the Viennese architect Gustav von Neumann, at the foot of the hill.
