Schellenberg: History and Views

During a stay in Schellenberg, you can explore history and landscape through specific places and two routes with different focuses. The Liechtenstein FarmhouseMuseum offers a glimpse into simple life in Liechtenstein; historic houses, the church and castle complexes tell stories of building periods and historical ways of life. The Great Circular Route adds viewpoints stretching from the northern Rhine Valley to the Walgau. When planning your visit, you can decide whether you would rather spend your time exploring architectural history, castle complexes or panoramic views.

Historic houses and architectural history

The Liechtenstein FarmhouseMuseum in Schellenberg gives visitors an insight into the simple way of life typical of Liechtenstein. The building was constructed in 1518 and is of particular significance to Liechtenstein’s history. A visit to the museum therefore brings together the historic building and the way of life on display. This focus differs from the other historical themes in the village, which mainly highlight architectural styles, religious architecture and castles.

The Biedermann House offers a different historical perspective. Its construction and room layout show how people in this region lived and worked in the late Middle Ages. These two aspects are closely connected: the structure and arrangement of the rooms are understood as clues to how people lived and worked. By contrast, the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary focuses on a more recent phase of construction. It was built between 1960 and 1963 to replace the church dating from 1855/1856. This makes it possible to distinguish, when considering architectural history, between a late-medieval residential and working context and the replacement of a church building in the 20th century.

Upper and Lower Castles

The castles can also be distinguished by their size and dates. The larger complex of Upper Castle in the Hinterschloss district of Schellenberg was built from 1200 onwards. Lower Castle was built around 1250 as a smaller complex; it was first mentioned in a document in 1317. These dates answer different questions: around 1250 refers to the period of construction, while 1317 marks the first documented mention. The ruins of Upper Castle in Schellenberg can be reached after a short walk. The castles therefore invite consideration of both the scale of the complexes and the difference between their construction dates and their first written mention.

Routes and views

The routes offer yet another focus. The main section of the “Historical High Trail” runs from Bendern to Hinterschellenberg on the Austrian border, then back via Gamprin. The “Great Circular Route” takes in viewpoints in every direction: the panorama stretches from the northern Rhine Valley across the Drei Schwestern Massif to the Walgau.

When choosing between them, you can first consider which aspect interests you more: the Historical High Trail focuses on the route described and its connection to the border; the Great Circular Route is characterised by its viewpoints and vistas across several named landscape areas. These two themes complement the cultural and historical sites with different ways of experiencing Schellenberg. Together, they show how you can plan a stay around specific interests—historic buildings and their context, or a route with far-reaching views.

Discover more destinations: Balzers, Schaan.

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