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Liechtenstein in the 1920's

© James Foster Robinson

What was the Principality of Liechtenstein like years ago? Robert Shackleton visited the little country in the 1920's and left us a picture of it in his book, "Unvisited Places of Old Europe". He was apparently the first American to set foot in the last remaining part of the Holy Roman Empire at least according to the then Governor of the Principality and the innkeeper where he stayed. Tourists had not as yet discovered the little land and its people.

Few automobiles were evident in the little country and people got around by walking or post wagon. One post wagon took the mail from Feldkirch to Vaduz a short two miles over well-maintained roads. A diligence or large stagecoach also ran the length of Liechtenstein. The valley in which Liechtenstein lay was " a sweet and smiling" narrow stretch where flax, maize, apples, pears and plums grew. He admired the kindergartens and the advanced schools as well as the Gothic churches built by the Prince in the larger towns. Every town had stone fountains with fresh water fed from mountain springs as well as a telegraph, telephones and electricity. The streets of Vaduz were electric-lit at night. It is interesting that he calls the little villages of Liechtenstein towns as none at that time had more than two thousand people.

Shackleton found Vaduz to be a "pleasant, cheerful town" nestled at the foot of a white cliff on which sat an old white castle. About that towered the white-capped mountains. He must have visited the little country in winter, as that would be the only time everything would be white from snow. Although Vaduz is the capital of the country there was little or no activity after dark except for a dog barking now and then and an occasional citizen hurrying home.

The population of Liechtenstein, according to Shackleton, was mostly loyal, hard-working and cheerful-hearted peasants. Hike a mountain path or walk a village street in those days, and men and women alike would greet you with a smile. They were also shrewd, self-respecting and vigilant in protecting and extending their rights under the rule of their respected Prince. Only a few were rich in any sense. Members of the parliament even sawed their own wood. On the other hand there were few servants employed and no poor. The ill and aged were well looked after. Crime was rare and there was only twenty hardly used cells in the whole country.

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