Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein, officially the Principality of Liechtenstein, is a doubly landlocked microstate in the Central European Alps, wedged between Austria to the east and Switzerland to the west and north. Formed in 1719 from counties purchased by the house of Liechtenstein, it became fully independent upon the dissolution of the German Confederation in 1866. Through the 1500–1945 period shown on the map the principality lived quietly inside the German-speaking imperial world, ruled continuously by the princes of Liechtenstein from their Alpine seat. It is a monarchy headed by the prince; it is Europe's fourth-smallest country, with an area of just over 160 square kilometres and a population of about 41,000, and it is the world's smallest country to border two countries. The official language is German. Liechtenstein is divided into eleven municipalities: its capital is Vaduz, dominated by the princely castle above the Rhine valley, and its largest municipality is Schaan. It is a member of the United Nations, the European Free Trade Association and the Council of Europe; it is not an EU member, but participates in the Schengen Area and the European Economic Area and maintains a customs and monetary union with Switzerland, using the Swiss franc.