Balzers
Balzers is a municipality and village located in southern Liechtenstein. In 2024, the village had a population of 4,806. The main part of the village is situated along the east bank of the Rhine.
History and culture
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 location was first mentioned in 842 as Palazoles. The name originates from Latin palatiola, meaning small palace.Balzers is the home of the Gutenberg Castle, which was built around 1200 on a rocky hill between Balzers and Mäls.
Politics
Balzers is locally administered by the mayor and a 11-person municipal council, elected every four years since 1975. The incumbent mayor is Karl Marlin, since 2023 [Liechtenstein local elections|2023].Transport
Heliport
Balzers has a heliport available for charter flights . The heliport has no border-control facilities; therefore, the only flights permitted to use it are those heading to and from elsewhere within the Schengen Area.| Aircraft | Year implemented | Type | In service | Role |
| Ecureuil AS 350 | 2005, 2008, and 2012 | B3 | 3 | Used for transporting people |
| Guimbal Cabri G2 | 2011 | 1 | Purchased for a new pilot training program, started April 2011 | |
| Kaman K-Max | 2006 | 1200 | 1 | Used for transporting cargo |
The nearest passenger airports are St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport, located north and Zurich Airport, located north west of Balzers.
Economy
Oerlikon Balzers
The headquarters of the major thin film coating, solar and vacuum technology company Oerlikon Balzers is located in Balzers.Sports
FC Balzers plays in Swiss 1. Liga.They play at the Sportplatz Rheinau, stadium has a capacity of 2,000.Notable people
- Xaver Frick 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 Minister of Foreign Affairs.
- Christine Wohlwend, politician.