Liechtenstein–Switzerland border
A short border along the Rhine that hardly exists in daily life: since a 1923 customs treaty Liechtenstein has formed one economic area with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc. It is so easy to miss that the Swiss army has strayed across it several times by mistake.
Written from cited sourcesLast checked 29 September 2026Suggest a correction
See it on the globe:Liechtenstein →Switzerland →
One economic area
On 29 March 1923 Liechtenstein and Switzerland agreed to form a joint economic area, the customs treaty at the heart of their close relationship. For its centenary in 2023, people from both sides gathered at the Old Rhine Bridge between Vaduz and Sevelen, and 50 citizens from each bank of the Rhine formed a human bridge.[1]
Rural areas on both sides look alike, people speak the same Swiss German dialect, and both use the Swiss franc.[2]
Invaded by mistake
In 1985 Swiss artillery training with rockets set a forest in Liechtenstein on fire, and Switzerland eventually paid several million francs in damages. In 1992 army recruits set up an observation post in Triesenberg before local residents pointed out that the village is in Liechtenstein.[2]
Early on 1 March 2007, 170 Swiss soldiers on a training march got lost in the rain and walked about a mile into Liechtenstein across the unmarked border before realising their mistake. Switzerland informed Liechtenstein and the commanding officer apologised; Liechtenstein, which has no army, took it in its stride.[3]
“It has happened before. Nobody really realized it.”[3]
Timeline
Sources
- [1]Liechtenstein and Switzerland celebrate 100 years since customs treaty · Liechtenstein Marketing (liechtenstein.li) · 2023-03
- [2]Swiss history: How the army attacked Liechtenstein three times — by mistake · The Local Switzerland · 28 February 2020
- [3]Whoops! Swiss Accidentally Invade Liechtenstein · ABC News · 3 March 2007
Map geometry from Natural Earth via world-atlas. See credits.