The Unterland
The Unterland is the smaller of the two regions having a total area of 35-km sq. It is bordered in the north and east by the Austrian State of Vorarlberg and in the west by Swizerland across the Rhine River. Lying at the foot of the Drei Schwestern (Three Sisters) mountains, the Unterland is a place of wooded hills, meadows, and clean streams. The wooded hills are the Eschnerberg which have been inhabited for over seven thousand years. The hills used to jut out island -like from the once marshy Rhine Valley. Roman ruins have been excavated at Nendeln and Schellenberg.
Today, its pleasant wooded slopes contain eight villages in five self-governing communes or parishes of Ruggell, Schellenberg, Eschen-Nendeln, Gamprin-Bendern, and Mauren-Schaanwald. A historic path leads along the ridge over hills, meadows and forests, past villages and ruined castles such as the one at Schellenberg. Agriculture and industry exist side by side in an intricate balance that does not spoil the environment.
Its inhabitants enjoy the outdoors and the area's many facilities such as hiking, walking, beach volleyball and in-line skating. Eschen and Mauren have tennis courts. Eschen has a great indoor swimming pool while Mauren has a riding arena. The forests of Schellenberg and Nendeln have open fitness circuits for the wishing a mote strenuous workout. Nature lovers can stroll through the nature reserve in Ruggell marsh, while bird lovers can enjoy the colorful world of birds, Vogelparadies Birka in Mauren. Woodland plants can be studied along the Salamander nature trail in Schaanwald. You can also wander freely through the Unterland's forests and mountain meadows and along its streams, canals and the raised banks of the Rhine.
The Oberland
The Oberland, or Upper Country, once the county of Vaduz, consists of the capital village of Vaduz and the five communes of Planken, Schaan, Triesen, Triesenberg, and Balzers. The region is known as the Upper Country, not because it lies in the south of Liechtenstein but because it is mostly mountains. The Oberland from Plaken to Balzers encompasses the east side of the Rhine valley and the west slope of the Rätikon Mountains with its woodlands, mountain meadows and soaring peaks. Its paved roads wind up steep mountain slopes but provide beautiful views of the Rhine valley and the surrounding mountains extending from Pizol to Lake Constance.
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