Balzers

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Balzers

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Balzers and its exclaves in Liechtenstein
Coordinates: 47°04′N 9°30′E / 47.067°N 9.5°E / 47.067; 9.5Coordinates: 47°04′N 9°30′E / 47.067°N 9.5°E / 47.067; 9.5
Country  Liechtenstein
Villages Mäls
Area
 • Total 19.6 km2 (7.6 sq mi)
Elevation 472 m (1,549 ft)
Population (31.12.2008[1])
 • Total 4,513
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC)
Postal code 9496
Area code(s) 7003
Website www.balzers.li

Balzers is a village and community located in southern Liechtenstein. As of the 2005 census, the community has a total population of 4,420. The main part of the village is situated along the east bank of the Rhine.

Contents

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.

Heliport

There is no airport in Liechtenstein, but Balzers has a small heliport available for charter flights. There are three government helicopters located here, one for Liechtenstein's police, one for Liechtenstein's fire and rescue department and one for official government use (mainly use by the Royal Family).47°04′05″N 9°28′52″E / 47.06812°N 9.48118°E / 47.06812; 9.48118 (Balzers heliport)

Rhein Helikopter AG

Rhein Helikopter AG is the only operational helicopter company servicing Balzers Heliport.[2][3][4] In 2001, Rhein Helikopter became a joint venture between the Prince of Liechtenstein Foundation and Heliswiss,[5][6] offering both charter flights, and scheduled shuttle flights to St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport.[5] Rhein Helikopter currently employs 10 people all located at Balzers.[7]

Aircraft Origin Year implemented Type In service Role[5]
Ecureuil AS 350  France 2005, 2008, and 2012 B3 3 Used for transporting people
Guimbal Cabri G2  France 2011 1 Purchased for a new pilot training program, started April 2011
Kaman K-Max  United States 2006 1200 1 Used for transporting cargo

Oerlikon Balzers

The headquarters of the major thin film coating, soler and vacuum technology company Oerlikon Balzers is located in Balzers.[8]

See also

References

External links

Media related to Balzers at Wikimedia Commons


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