Balzers

Balzers is a village located in southern Liechtenstein. As of 2019, the village had a total population of 4,642. The main part of the village is situated along the east bank of the Rhine.

Balzers
Municipality
Balzers in early September 2010
Flag
Coat of arms
Balzers (southwest) and its exclaves in Liechtenstein
Coordinates: 47°04′N 9°30′E
Country Liechtenstein
Electoral districtOberland
VillagesMäls
Area
 • Total19.6 km2 (7.6 sq mi)
Elevation
472 m (1,549 ft)
Population
 (31-12-2019)[1]
 • Total4,642
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)CEST
Postal code
9496
Area code(s)7003
ISO 3166 codeLI-01
Websitewww.balzers.li

History and Culture
Balzers, entry (direction to Trubbach)

Historically, the present-day form of the village consists of two different villages, the actual Balzers in the east and Mäls in the west. Not visible to the unaware, the division still persists in the local village culture, where it manifests in half-serious local competition. Some customs, such as the "Funken" a springtime ritual with pre-Christian origins involving a huge bonfire, are still being practised by each separately. The two parts were first mentioned in 842 as Palazole.

Balzers is the home of the Burg Gutenberg, which was built in the 12th-century and located on a rocky hill in the centre of the village.

Transport

Heliport

There is no airport in Liechtenstein, but Balzers has a small heliport available for charter flights (IATA: -, ICAO: LSXB) (47.06812°N 9.48118°E / 47.06812; 9.48118 (Balzers heliport)). The heliport has no border-control facilities; therefore, the only flights permitted to use it are those heading to/from elsewhere within the Schengen Area.

Aircraft Origin Year implemented Type In service Role
Ecureuil AS 350  France 2005, 2008, and 2012 B3 3 Used for transporting people
Guimbal Cabri G2  France 2011 1 Purchased for a new pilot training program, started April 2011
Kaman K-Max  United States 2006 1200 1 Used for transporting cargo

Economy

Oerlikon Balzers

The headquarters of the major thin film coating, solar and vacuum technology company Oerlikon Balzers is located in Balzers.[2]

Notable people
  • Xaver Frick (1913 in Balzers – 2009) Olympic track and field athlete and cross-country skier. He competed in track sprinting events in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin and cross-country skiing at the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz. Frick is the only Liechtenstein athlete to date to have competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. He was awarded a Golden Laurel in 2003 by the government of Liechtenstein for outstanding contributions to sport.
  • Andrea Willi (born 1955) Minister of Foreign Affairs (1993-2001).

Twin towns and sister cities
  • Saitama, Japan (2000)

See also

References
  1. https://www.llv.li/files/as/bevolkerungsstatistik-30-juni-2017.pdf
  2. "Oerlikon Balzers - Contact". Oerlikon.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
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