In 1989, the Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein declared the entire Alpine area of the country an integral plant preservation area. Pasture zones for cattle and small livestock were separated out. Among the many hiking paths in the Alpine area, the Princess Gina Path stands out. Almost the entire colorful world of Alpine plants comes together here. The connoisseur and the nature-loving hiker can find rarities such as the Triglav hawksbeard (crepis terglouensis) and the Swiss dandelion (leontodon helveticus), but also spectacular views such as from the summit of the Augstenberg (2,222 meters), from where the mountains of three countries can be seen. For hardy hikers, the ascent of the Galinakopf is recommended. On the ridge, there are colonies of the rare senecio abrotanifolius. To the west, the ridge is covered by an Alpine dwarf pine forest, never altered by human hand. The hike to Lawena is a secret tip. The Lawena valley is not accessible to motor vehicles. The efforts of the long hike are rewarded by a wonderful variety of plants. In hidden corners, we find the lady's slipper (cypripedium calceolus), on the western ridge the thorny astragalus (astragalus sempervirens). On the untouched slopes of the Mittlerspitz, many nests of edelweiss (leontopodium alpinum) look down upon us.

The king of hikes leads from Planken over the Saroja pass to the Three Sisters, and from there over the Kuhgrat and the Fürstensteig to Gaflei. The hike demands freedom from fear of heights over the ladders of the Three Sisters and surefootedness over the often narrow ridges. Along this steep path, almost everything blooms that can be found in the Alpine region of the Rätikon. In the crevices of the Fürstensteig, we discover a true El Dorado of pioneer plants such as the blue-green saxifrage (saxifraga caesia) and the lovely Alpine toadflax (linaria alpina) with its bright orange throat.

Fürstensteig: part of the king of hikes

View of the Three Sisters