Rapperswil Castle - Vaduz - Gutenberg Castle - Heididorf

Route: Zurich - Rapperswil Castle - Vaduz - Gutenberg Castle - Heididorf - Zurich
Duration: 10 h
Escape from reality for the day and immerse yourself in the fairytale-like landscapes of Liechtenstein and Heidiland.Our first stop in this tour will be at the medieval Rapperswil Castle, where you can admire 600 rose varieties in Rapperswil Rose Garden. Rapperswil Castle dates back around 1200 to 1220 AD, and it was first mentioned in 1229 on occasion of the foundation of the Rüti Abbey. The castle and the fortifications of the former locus Endingen (given by the Einsiedeln Abbey) were built by Count Rudolf II and his son Rudolf III von Rapperswil, when the nobility of Rapperswil moved from Altendorf (Alt-Rapperswil) across the lake to the other side of the so-called Seedamm, maybe to establish their own parish church and to avoid to go the mess, by crossing the lake, in St. Martin Busskirch. The castle was given to the citizens of Rapperswil in 1442. Later the castle was controlled by the Swiss confederation. After that visit we will drive to Vaduz in Liechtenstein, where you can witness the magnificent Vaduz Castle, as well as the Cathedral of St. Florin, Government House, and the City Hall. At the Vaduz Tourism Office, get the change to stamp your passport with a Liechtenstein stamp for CHF 3.00. Next stop will be at Gutenberg Castle, located in the town of Balzers, where you can admire panoramic views of the town below. The castle stands about 70m above the nearby village, on a hill which has been inhabited since the Neolithic Period. Indeed, many interesting archaelogical discoveries have been made near the building, the most significant of which - the 'Mars von Gutenberg' figurine measuring just 12cm - is on display in the Liechtenstein National Museum. You can walk to the castle from the nearby village, and the bailey ('Vorburg') is open throughout the year.  A number of cultural events and activities take place at the castle during the summer months. Afterward we will continue to Swiss Heidiland, which gets its name from Johanna Spyri’s world-famous Heidi story. Spend some time admiring the picturesque village. Follow the Heidi Path to discover all of the locations described in Spyri's book and even pay a visit to the authentic Heidi house. At the end we will return to Zurich.
Price: Per person