Classroom lesson 路 Vaduz Castle馃嚤馃嚠 Liechtenstein

Vaduz Castle

A real royal castle on a clifftop above the capital

Vaduz Castle perched on a green cliff above the city of Vaduz

Photo 路 Wikimedia Commons

What is it?

Vaduz Castle is a real castle where Liechtenstein's royal family still lives today. It sits on a rocky cliff directly above the capital city, Vaduz, and you can see it from almost everywhere in the valley below. It is like something from a fairy tale - but the lights really do turn on at night.

Tell me more

The castle has been standing on its cliff for more than 700 years. Parts of it were built in the 1200s, which means it is older than many countries. Over the centuries, different rulers added new towers, walls and rooms, so the castle you see today is a mix of many building styles all joined together.

The royal family - called the House of Liechtenstein - actually live inside the castle and call it home. Because it is a private home, visitors cannot go inside. But you can walk up the steep path to the castle gates and look out over the Rhine valley below, which stretches into Austria and Switzerland.

Once a year, on National Day (15 August), the castle grounds are opened and the Prince invites everyone in Liechtenstein to a big garden party with fireworks. It is one of the only times in the world when a royal family opens their front door and says 'come on in - let us celebrate together!'

In the classroom

Walk your class through this in 15 minutes.

Talk together

Discussion prompts

  1. 01What would it feel like to live in a castle on a cliff? What might be fun - and what might be tricky?
  2. 02The royal family opens their home once a year for a big party. When have you opened your home to share something with others?
  3. 03Why do you think people build important buildings on high ground or hilltops?
Try this

Classroom activity

Draw your own castle on a cliff. Think about what you would add: towers, a drawbridge, a garden, a flag? Write three sentences explaining what makes your castle special.