Balzers is a municipality and village located in southern Liechtenstein. In 2019, the village had a population of 4,642. 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 two parts were first mentioned in 842 as Palazole. Balzers is the home of the Burg Gutenberg, which was built in the 12th century on a rocky hill in the centre of the village. On 7 April 2014, the manager of the Frick & Co. Bank, Jürgen Frick, was shot and killed in a parking garage in the town. The shooter, Jürgen Hermann, was found dead afterwards, having shot himself in the head. The event was noteworthy due to Liechtenstein's extremely low crime rate.

Administration

Balzers is locally administered by the mayor and a 10-person municipal council, elected every four years since 1975. The incumbent mayor is Karl Marlin, since 2023.

List of mayors (1864–present)

Transport

Heliport

Balzers has a heliport available for charter flights (47.06812°N, 9.48118°W). 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.

Economy

Oerlikon Balzers

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

Notable people