Unterland

Is “Tschügger” an insult or a term of endearment? This, my friends, is the Unterland, the northern part of Liechtenstein. Don’t let the name fool you. “Unterland” simply means “lower land”. This region is anything but inferior. The Unterland encompasses five municipalities nestled along the eastern banks of the Rhine. These municipalities are Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Ruggell, and Schellenberg. Until the late 19th century, Unterland and Oberland, the southern region, were loosely defined. The names were more like nicknames based on their geographic locations. But things changed in 1878. A currency crisis gripped Liechtenstein. The value of the Austrian gulden, the legal tender in Liechtenstein at the time, plummeted. This caused chaos, especially in trade with Switzerland. The Oberland, with closer ties to Switzerland, demanded a switch to the gold standard. The Unterland, however, primarily traded with Vorarlberg in Austria and preferred the existing system. This clash of interest led to the formal establishment of two separate electoral districts in 1878. This division wasn’t just about economics. It solidified a distinct identity for the Unterland. Even the dialects spoken here differ from those in the Oberland. This region, my friends, is a testament to Liechtenstein’s ability to adapt and thrive amidst changing times.