Schaan (German pronunciation: [ʃaːn] ) is the largest municipality of Liechtenstein by population. It is located to the north of Vaduz, the capital, in the central part of the country. As of 2019 it has a population of 6,039,[2] making it the most populous administrative district in Liechtenstein. Representing an important traffic hub and industrial location of the country, Schaan covers an area of 26.92 km2 (10.39 sq mi), including mountains and forest. It is a municipality within the electoral district of Oberland in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Schaan contains four enclaves: Brunnenegg, Gritsch, Guschg, and Plankner Neugrütt.

Schaan
Top to bottom: View from Triesenberg with Schaan on the bottom right, city center, St. Laurentius Parish Church
Flag of Schaan
Coat of arms of Schaan
Location of Schaan
Map
Schaan and its exclaves in Liechtenstein
Schaan and its exclaves in Liechtenstein
Coordinates: 47°10′00″N 9°30′35″E / 47.16667°N 9.50972°E / 47.16667; 9.50972
Country Liechtenstein
Electoral districtOberland
Villagesnone
Area
 • Total26.92 km2 (10.39 sq mi)
Elevation
450 m (1,480 ft)
Population
 (31-12-2019)[1]
 • Total6,039
 • Density220/km2 (580/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
9494
Area code7005
ISO 3166 codeLI-07
Websitewww.schaan.li

History edit

Recent archaeological finds have shown that Schaan has been inhabited for over 6,000 years: In the year 15 BC, the Romans, under Augustus, conquered the territory of the present Principality of Liechtenstein and established the Roman province of Raetia. In the 1st century AD, a military road was built from Milan to Bregenz, running along the Luzisteig on the right bank of the Rhine. This led to the building of settlements in modern-day Schaan. In 1887, two Roman legionnaire's helmets were found buried during digging work above Dux. Bearing the engraved names of the legionaries Publius Cavidius Felix and Numerius Pomponius and dated to the 1st century AD, it is likely that they were intended as a variety of commemoration of the two men. They are now housed in the museums of Bregenz and Zurich.

The most important Roman building on the territory of the municipality is a fort built in the valley, whose purpose was to afford protection against the ever more frequent Alemannic invasions. Remains of its foundations and the gate tower are again visible from St. Peter's Church, Schaan. A 5th century baptistery was found during excavations inside this church, suggesting early Christianization. During excavations there, traces of a prehistoric settlement were also found.

The Alemannic settlement is evidenced by numerous grave finds. At that time Schaan consisted of two separate parts. The Romanized Räter-people had their centre at St. Peter, while the Alemannic population settled in the area of Specki. This dichotomy can still be seen today in the existence of two alpine cooperatives, the North-Alemannic cooperative Gritsch and the southern Rhaeto-Roman cooperative Guschg.

Geography edit

Schaan is the northernmost municipality in the Liechtenstein Oberland. It is bordered to the south by the capital, Vaduz, to the east by Planken and Triesenberg, and to the north by the municipalities of Eschen and Gamprin. In the west, the Rhine forms the natural border with Switzerland, and in the east, the town is dominated by the Three Sisters mountain range. Schaan also has four exclaves within other municipalities, and two enclaves within its primary municipality. Because of this, Schaan borders Austria in three separate locations.

Transport edit

Schaan-Vaduz railway station edit

Schaan-Vaduz is one of the four train stations serving Liechtenstein, located in the town of Schaan, 3.5 km from Vaduz. It is owned by the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). The station is served by eighteen trains per day, nine in each direction between Switzerland and Austria. It is situated on the international and electrified Feldkirch-Buchs line, between the station of Buchs SG (in Switzerland) and the stop of Forst Hilti (in the northern suburb of Schaan). It is served only by regional trains.

Schaan Forst Hilti railway station edit

The station is served by eighteen trains per day, nine in each direction between Switzerland and Austria. It is located in front of the Hilti Corporation's headquarters, on the outskirts of Schaan.

Climate edit

Schaan has an Oceanic climate (Koppen: Cfb)

Climate data for Schaan
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 2.6
(36.7)
4.8
(40.6)
9.5
(49.1)
13.8
(56.8)
18.1
(64.6)
21.3
(70.3)
23.4
(74.1)
22.5
(72.5)
19.7
(67.5)
14.1
(57.4)
8.1
(46.6)
3.4
(38.1)
13.4
(56.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) −0.6
(30.9)
1.1
(34.0)
4.9
(40.8)
8.8
(47.8)
12.9
(55.2)
16.2
(61.2)
18.3
(64.9)
17.6
(63.7)
14.8
(58.6)
9.8
(49.6)
4.6
(40.3)
0.4
(32.7)
9.1
(48.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −3.7
(25.3)
−2.6
(27.3)
0.4
(32.7)
3.9
(39.0)
7.8
(46.0)
11.2
(52.2)
13.2
(55.8)
12.7
(54.9)
10.0
(50.0)
5.6
(42.1)
1.1
(34.0)
−2.5
(27.5)
4.8
(40.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 67
(2.6)
62
(2.4)
65
(2.6)
87
(3.4)
106
(4.2)
132
(5.2)
130
(5.1)
140
(5.5)
103
(4.1)
76
(3.0)
79
(3.1)
76
(3.0)
1,123
(44.2)
Source: Climate-data.org[3]

Education edit

There are four kindergarten sites: Malarsch, Pardiel, Rebera, and Werkof. The Gemeinschaftszentrum Resch, Primarschule provides primary education.[4]

Realschule Schaan and Sportschule Liechtenstein are in Schaan, while Realschule Vaduz and Oberschule Vaduz are in the Schulzentrum Mühleholz II in Vaduz. Liechtensteinisches Gymnasium is also in Vaduz.[5]

There is a private Waldorf school which has students from, in addition to Liechtenstein, Austria and Switzerland. It was established in 1985.[6]

Notable people edit

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ "LLV". Llv.li. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Bevölkerungsstatistik" (PDF). Llv.li. June 30, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  3. ^ "Climate: Schaan, LI". Climate-data.org.
  4. ^ "Strassenplan" (Archive). Commune of Schaan. Retrieved on May 12, 2016.
  5. ^ "Weiterführende Schulen Schaan." Commune of Schaan. Retrieved on May 12, 2016. "Realschule Schaan Duxgass 55 9494 Schaan" and "Sportschule Liechtenstein Duxgass 55 9494 Schaan" and "Realschule Vaduz Schulzentrum Mühleholz II 9490 Vaduz" and "Oberschule Vaduz Schulzentrum Mühleholz II 9490 Vaduz"
  6. ^ "Waldorfschule." Commune of Schaan. Retrieved on May 12, 2016.
  7. ^ "Gerta Keller, Professor of Geosciences, Emeritus | Volcanism, Impacts and Mass Extinctions". Gkeller.princeton.edu.

External links edit