Holiday apartment in Balzers: Castle and Rhine Valley

In southern Liechtenstein, Balzers combines castle and village history with paths along the Rhine and facilities for cyclists. A holiday apartment can serve as a base if you want to explore Gutenberg Castle, Mäls or Ellhorn. These destinations are not all in the same place. So choose the location of your holiday home based on your actual plans for the day, not solely on the place name Balzers.

Gutenberg Castle and historic buildings

The outer ward of Gutenberg Castle is freely accessible year-round. There are 280 plant species on the castle hill, almost one fifth of all plant species in Liechtenstein. History and botanical diversity meet here. However, free access to the outer ward does not mean that the interior of the entire castle is open at all times. A walk on the hill can focus on the accessible areas and take in the plant life with respect for the site.

In Mäls stands the tower house, built around 1300 and the only surviving medieval secular building of its kind in Liechtenstein. St. Peter’s Chapel is among the oldest surviving religious buildings in the country. In Balzers, St. Nicholas Parish Church was built in the Neo-Romanesque style from 1909 to 1912; Mariahilf Chapel has been a protected monument since 1951. These buildings offer different periods of local history on a walk around the village, without requiring an interior visit to every building. The Old Rectory hosts temporary exhibitions focused on the local area.

Everyday and working life are also part of the story. The Torkel building preserves a complete historic wine press and is the last surviving building of its kind in the municipality. Balzers Mill is the only mill in Liechtenstein still producing flour continuously. If you are looking for a holiday apartment as a base for visiting local sights, the actual distance to these places may matter more than a general description such as “central”.

Cycling and activities

The Bike Skillpark features an approximately 600-metre-long singletrack through the alluvial forest near the Vita Parcours. Skill features of varying difficulty allow mountain bikers and e-bikers to practise their riding skills. The park is freely accessible and free of charge. This does not mean the features are suitable for everyone or in all weather conditions. If you are bringing your own bike, you can assess the accommodation’s location in relation to the park and whether bike storage is actually offered as separate considerations. The concrete pump track in Balzers is rideable year-round and complements the cycling facilities with a different kind of training.

At Ellhorn, a climbing garden offers routes graded from 5 to 8. It is intended for climbers with the appropriate experience and preparation; the presence of the climbing garden does not imply that guided courses are available. Ellhorn is also home to the last natural stretch of the Rhine bank before the Rhine flows into Lake Constance. The Balzers Giessen are among the last near-natural watercourses on Liechtenstein’s valley plain. Nature watching and climbing therefore involve different locations and requirements.

Choosing the right holiday apartment

Those interested in the castle and Mäls will need a different route plan from those travelling with a bike or climbing gear. For a specific holiday home or apartment, check the address, price, availability and listed amenities. The local sights make Balzers a distinctive destination; they do not prove that every accommodation has castle views, a bike room or direct access to the Rhine.