Liechtenstein is sandwiched between the Austrians and the Swiss and could reunite with them, but it stubbornly clings to its independence, as well as to the feudal rights of the prince, one of the last monarchs in the world with the right to make laws alone.

Liechtenstein is a principality

Like many other countries in Europe, Liechtenstein is a constitutional monarchy, the only difference being that the king or queen is replaced by a prince. The current prince's name is Alois and he took the throne in 2004.

The history of this state dates back to the 12th century: Charles I of Liechtenstein became a prince through the patronage of Emperor Matthias, head of the Holy Roman Empire. His son acquired the lands of Schellenberg and the county of Vaduz, both of which were not bound by anything other than an obligation of loyalty to the Emperor.

By the way, today this lordly European house in theory can claim the British throne as the closest relatives of the Jacobite dynasty.

On the other hand, the Liechtenstein's are no strangers to progress: Prince Maximilian was the first European monarch to marry a woman of African descent from Latin America.

It is one of the smallest countries in the world

As we mentioned, it's a small country. Just very small! However, compared to such tiny countries as Vatican City, San Marino or Monaco, there is still plenty of room to spread out: 38,000 inhabitants of Liechtenstein live on 160 square kilometers.

Despite its modest size, the country is a full member of the UN, UNESCO, IOC and a dozen other international organizations, but not of NATO or the European Union or the Eurozone - here they believe that these supranational bodies are not capable of benefiting the state, but will only plunge it into additional costs.

A prince once offered to sell the country to Bill Gates

In 2001, the ruler decided to expand his rights, he was not satisfied with the rights and privileges he had, like making laws by his will. He wanted to veto parliamentary bills and be able to form the judiciary.

This provoked a powerful debate, and the prince, arguing, threatened to leave the principality and take all his property to Vienna and sell the country to some billionaire like Bill Gates. This settled the matter: the people supported their monarch in a referendum and the amendments were passed.

The Liechtenstein family are collectively billionaires

The House of Liechtenstein is legally the richest owning family in the EU. Technically, the monarchs of Britain are richer, but most of the assets there belong to a legal entity controlled by the British authorities, The Crown Estate.

While the latter owns assets worth 70-80 billion euros, the personal capital of Charles III does not exceed 500-550 million; while the Liechtenstein's can lay out 5 or even 6 billion ‘on the barrel’. And here we are talking entirely about personal property.

The lion's share of it is a private bank called LGT Group: it is a legal business that has nothing to do with state institutions.

The prince invites everyone in the country to have a drink

Every year on the 15th of August, everyone in the country is invited to a reception at the royal castle where fireworks and snacks with light alcohol are provided for the guests. It's probably the only one of its kind in the world!

This is the false teeth capital of the world

A principality of modest size contributes to the global economy. For example, one local firm exports up to a quarter of the total combined world production of dentures and other dental products, including instruments and therapeutic toothpastes.

The last country in Europe to give women the right to vote

Liechtenstein women won the right to vote by a margin of 0.5 per cent and 37 votes only in 1984 after a constitutional referendum in which, incidentally, only men had the right to participate.

Liechtenstein's 11 municipalities have the right to secede

Administratively, the country is made up of 11 municipalities, and constitutionally each of them has the right to secede - provided local residents vote in favor. Hypothetically, one of the world's tiniest states could spawn another 11 or so.