“Did anyone lose a stone marked ‘L S’?” We’re standing before boundary marker 35. It’s a simple, squared stone, etched with those letters – “L S”. While seemingly insignificant, this stone whispers a tale of empires, treaties, and the enduring spirit of a nation. This unassuming marker, boundary marker 35, represents a physical manifestation of Liechtenstein’s journey to sovereignty. Before 1719, the land we now know as Liechtenstein was divided. Then came a prince with a dream: Anton Florian of Liechtenstein, a loyal servant to the Holy Roman Emperor. He desired land, a principality, a place for his family name to be etched not just in stone, but in history. That dream was realized when the Emperor, Charles VI, united the counties of Vaduz and Schellenberg. The newly formed territory was christened “Liechtenstein”. Each boundary stone, including this one, boundary marker 35, became a symbol of the principality’s hard-won independence. The inscription “LS,” short for “Liechtenstein Schellenberg,” is a silent echo of that pivotal union. So next time you see a boundary stone, remember: they’re not just markers of land, they’re markers of time, carrying the weight of history in their stillness.
Kriegerdenkmal
“Kriegerdenkmal” – is the German word for war memorial. This one stands as a silent sentinel, a somber testament to