Bendern Church Hill

The church of St Mary stands on a low hill above the Rhine at Bendern, a site occupied since prehistory and holding a church since at least the twelfth century, and on the meadow below it the men of the lordship of Schellenberg swore allegiance to the Liechtenstein family in 1699, which is one of the founding moments of the country. The hill gives a view over the Rhine and into Switzerland. The 1699 oath covered the lower county, with Vaduz bought a few years later to complete the territory.

What you actually see

• The church - the building on the hill, with fabric from the twelfth century.
• The oath meadow - the ground below where allegiance was sworn in 1699.
• The Rhine view - the river and Switzerland from the hilltop.
• The long occupation - a site used since prehistory.

When to go

April to October is the pleasant season. The church is open around services. The Eschnerberg trail starts here.

Honest expectations

The church interior is often locked outside services. The historical significance is not obvious on the ground and the interpretation is limited. An hour covers it.

Nearby

The Eschnerberg trail runs east, and Schaan is south.