Liechtenstein: Alpine Gem Trivia Quiz

Answer: Austria

Liechtenstein is tucked away between Switzerland and Austria and the latter two countries are responsible for some of the former's services.

Liechtenstein has shared an open border with Switzerland - both countries not being part of the European Union (EU) - since 1923 and the intention was for this to continue for the long term after Liechtenstein joined the Schengen Area in late 2011. The Schengen Area consists of more than twenty European countries, though not all part of the EU, and allows for no border controls between the member states for residents of those states. For travellers from countries outside of the Schengen Area, strict border controls remain in place but once visitors are in the Area, they are subject to the same border liberties as those who live there.

When Liechtenstein became a part of the Schengen Area, only a few things really changed regarding the country's border controls. Switzerland and Austria were both involved in the scheme prior to Liechtenstein's entry and in order for almost all visitors to reach the principality, they have to first travel through Switzerland or Austria. As has been stated above, Switzerland and Liechtenstein have long enjoyed an open border but its border with Austria was always more strictly guarded. The first main consequence of Liechtenstein joining the Schengen Area was the relaxation of control at this border crossing. The second consequence is that the country's very small airport, or rather heliport, in Balzers would no longer accept flights to Liechtenstein from countries outside of the Schengen Area. Thus, it is an impossibility to gain illegal entry to the Schengen Area via Liechtenstein without the illegal visitors first gaining unauthorised access to another Schengen Area country.

Answer: No

Liechtenstein is considered to be a microstate, a very small country with a usually small population. Liechtenstein has an area of just 62 square miles which puts the country in the top ten smallest in the world. To put that value into context, the Indian Ocean island of Sri Lanka has an area of just over 25,000 square miles making Sri Lanka over 400 times larger than Liechtenstein.

Despite having limited space, Liechtenstein isn't the smallest country in Europe. In fact, there are three countries on the European mainland that make Liechtenstein appear positively spacious: Vatican City, Monaco and San Marino. In addition to these three countries, two countries in the vast Pacific Ocean are smaller than the Principality of Liechtenstein and they are Nauru and Tuvalu.

Answer: Schaan

The towns of Schaan and Vaduz are very close in terms of geography and their populations. Schaan usually has a few hundred more people residing in the town than does Vaduz but such small differences in the populations of settlements is to be expected in a microstate like Liechtenstein. The two towns are so close to each other that one can leisurely stroll between the two, the distance being about two kilometres.

Basel and Buchs are, respectively, a city and town in Switzerland. Buchs is the gateway to Liechtenstein on the Swiss side of the country with the Liechtenstein Bus service taking residents and visitors across the Rhine to Schaan. Innsbruck is a city in Austria not terribly far from the town of Feldkirch which is on the Austria-Liechtenstein border.

Answer: Last European country to grant women's suffrage in national elections

In 1984, Liechtenstein became the last country in Europe to allow women the right to vote in national elections. After women were given the right to vote in Swiss federal elections in 1971 and after Portugal removed its last few barriers to electoral inequality in 1974, the 60 square miles of Liechtenstein was the only place in Europe where women could not vote at the national level.

Upon the news that the Swiss granted female suffrage in 1971, the issue was put to the people of Liechtenstein in the form of a referendum. When I say people, I mean men as it was only males who were allowed to vote in this referendum. The outcome was not to be the same as that in Switzerland and Liechtensteiner women would remain a unique entity in European politics. 'Time Magazine' published an article that year and the title 'Liechtenstein: Keeping Up with Kuwait' made it clear how the microstate was being viewed by foreign observers. The article went on to describe how no man in Liechtenstein was willing to openly state their opposition to female suffrage yet more than half of those who voted in the referendum did oppose the notion. A point to consider, also brought up by the 'Time Magazine' article, is that "[s]ome Liechtensteiners saw the outcome less as a rejection of women than as a gesture of independence from Switzerland".

Whilst Liechtenstein remained in a state of political inequality after the referendum of 1971, a further fifteen countries from around the world gave female residents the right to vote. It was only in 1984 that the principality made the change when 51.3% of those who voted in the "referendum on the introduction of women's suffrage in national elections" put a cross in the "for" box. As a point of interest, Kuwait gave women the right to vote in 2005.

Answer: Crown

The flag of Liechtenstein is designed to reflect what life is like nestled in the Alps: the blue sky, red for the fires that are lit in chalets and homes across the country keeping the population warm in the depths of winter, and the crown that unifies all Liechtensteiners - people and prince.

Answer: Swiss Franc

Liechtenstein has strong ties with both of its neighbouring countries, Austria and Switzerland. The Alpine microstate has used the Swiss Franc since the beginning of the 1920s and prior to this Liechtenstein used the Austrian krone as their currency. The Austrian krone went the way of the dodo when the Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolved at the end of the First World War.

Answer: True

Liechtenstein has a small stretch of railway and four railway stations. The majority of train services travel through the principality without stopping; only a handful of services stop at Liechtensteiner stations. The railway in Liechtenstein is run by the Austrian Federal Railways (OBB).

Answer: Cabin Pressure

'Cabin Pressure', a BBC Radio 4 series starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Stephanie Cole, Roger Allam and Tom Finnemore, had its initial run from 2008 to 2014. The series follows the goings on at MJN Air; in one episode, 'Vaduz', the crew are involved in flying King Maximilian and Princess Theresa from Liechtenstein to Fitton, UK.

This of course is all entirely fictional as there is no way of flying out of Liechtenstein and the country has a prince, not a king!

Answer: Muesli

When travelling across Europe, particularly German-speaking nations, you will frequently see muesli being displayed and sold as Bircher muesli. Known across the world, muesli is a pick and mix of dried and fresh fruits, a variety of toasted oats, grains and seeds, and a sprinkling of whichever nuts take your fancy.

It can be served with milk or yoghurt and, for those with a sweet tooth, a squeeze of honey.

Answer: Football (Soccer)

To see a score of 11-1 in football (soccer) is very rare; it was record breaking for both Liechtenstein and FYR Macedonia in that it was the worst defeat for the former and the most goals scored in a game for the latter. The match was played as part of the qualification stage of the 1998 FIFA World Cup, with participants seeking to secure a place in the final stages of the tournament in France. Neither team qualified.