http://www.balzers.li
( 472 meters elevation )
southernmost municipality
former horse station on the old Lindau-Milano postal road
Gutenberg Castle
Gutenberg House Educational Institution
Maria-Hilf Chapel, St. Peter's Chapel
Indoor swimming pool and sports facilities

General information on Balzers / Mäls
Balzers, the southernmost municipality of Liechtenstein, comprises the settlements of Balzers and Mäls. The townscape is shaped by Gutenberg Castle and the Prince Johann Jubilee Church. The Rhine and St. Luziensteig form the political border with Switzerland. Balzers was first mentioned in writing in the 9th century. The name is of Latin origin and means manor or palatinate.
Balzers was a horse station on the Lindau-Milano postal route. The first mail collection station in Liechtenstein was established here in 1817 and became the first post office of the country in 1839.
Since the Second World War, the municipality of Balzers has undergone a decisive structural transformation, in which the areas of industry, trade, and services in particular have developed considerably. Balzers has an indoor swimming pool and various sports facilities.

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Historical buildings and sites in Balzers / Mäls

• St. Peter´s Chapel in Mäls
  The current construction in Mäls originated to a large extent in the early 16th century. The chapel was renovated completely in 1873 and its interior again in 1934.
• Gutenberg Castle
  Gutenberg Castle was first mentioned in writing in 1263; it was presumably built in the 11th century. It belonged to the barons of Frauenberg in 1305. It was transferred to the dukes of Austria in 1314 and remained in Austrian possession for more than 500 years. In 1750, it was left to decay. The municipality of Balzers bought the decaying castle with its property in 1824. In 1905, the sculptor Egon Rheinberger from Vaduz purchased the ruins and expanded the castle into its current form between 1906 and 1910 according to his own plans. For several years, a restaurant was run in the castle. Today, the castle belongs to the State. It has been restored in recent years, so that the interior and exterior spaces have been used since August 2000 for cultural and social event.
• St. Nicholas´ Parish Church
  The construction at the eastern foot of Gutenberg was completed in 1912. It is a neo-Romanesque, vaulted church with a single nave and a semicircular apse. The Vienna architect Gustav von Neumann drafted the plans. The construction of the church was donated by Prince Johann II (the Good) in commemoration of his 50th jubilee. The old church was demolished; only its tower still stands.
• Maria-Hilf Chapel in Mäls
  According to an unsubstantiated tradition, the chapel in Mäls was built in commemoration of the battle fought here on 5 January 1289 between Bishop Friedrich von Montfort of Chur and his cousin, Count Hugo von Werdenberg, who supported the Emperor. The battle ended unhappily for the bishop’s supporters. The chapel was probably constructed between 1816 and 1846. The last major restoration was overseen by the architect Hans Rheinberger of Vaduz in 1945.

St. Nicholas' Parish Church and
Gutenberg Castle characterize the
townscape of Balzers

St. Peter's Chapel in the
neighborhood of Mäls was built
in the early 16th century

Maria-Hilf Chapel near Mäls was
built between 1816 and 1846