Malbun

The name Malbun comes from Romance, either alp bun, "good, productive alp", or val bun, "good, productive valley". The high valley was formed by a local glacier, and its landscape today is the result of centuries of farming as a pre-alpine pasture, left empty from Christmas until spring. The Walser, who migrated into the area from the end of the 13th century, were probably the first to settle Triesenberg permanently; a document of 1355 grants them part of the Alp Malbun "as they had it before", so they must have been grazing it earlier. The first alpine regulations date from 1562.

In 1867 a small tunnel and a narrow road replaced the steep mule track over the Kulm, making Malbun easier to reach, and tourism began in 1908 with a spa house and tourist station at Sareiserjoch. Around 1925 Malbun was still a scattering of about fifty seasonal huts. Skiers and ski tourers appeared in the 1930s, the spa house first opened in winter in 1931–32, and a post bus first ran into the valley in 1932. The Samina power station and the Steg reservoir followed in 1947–49, with a tunnel shortening the road from Triesenberg.

An avalanche destroyed several huts in January 1951. From 1959 the road was kept open all year, and the first ski lifts came in the early 1960s. In 1968 five Swiss artillery shells accidentally landed in the village, damaging a few chairs set outside. In February 1999 avalanches destroyed ten holiday houses and the whole valley was evacuated. The rival lift companies merged as Bergbahnen Malbun, which received further state loans in 2020 because of continuing losses.

Malbun belongs to Triesenberg, the highest municipality in the country's Oberland and a Walser community, known for its distinct dialect inherited from the medieval settlers. The valley's oldest culture is that of alpine farming: the pastures of Turna belong to the municipality of Triesenberg and those of Pradamee to a cooperative from Vaduz.

The village's best-known building is the Friedenskapelle, or Peace Chapel, the highest church in Liechtenstein. It was built in 1950–51 at the initiative of the parish priest of Triesenberg in thanks that Liechtenstein had been spared the cruelties of the Second World War; its bell came from the demolished old parish church of Triesenberg, and the Swiss artist Johannes Hugentobler painted its interior.

Sport has given Malbun a profile far beyond its size. It is the only ski resort in the country, and in winter 1985 Prince Charles and Princess Diana skied here. In summer Malbun has been a mountain stage finish of the Tour de Suisse cycling race, in 2004, 2007, 2011 and 2022, and the finish of the Liechtenstein Alpine Marathon.

Malbun is a small resort rather than a working village. Because of its isolation and the lack of transport for centuries, no trade or industry developed here; the valley was used for farming and forestry, back to the 14th century, and only in the last hundred years or so has tourism become another source of income. Today it consists largely of holiday houses, hotels and restaurants.

The year turns on two seasons. In winter the Bergbahnen Malbun lifts — three chairlifts, tow lifts and two magic carpets — serve about 23 km of pistes, and families fill the ski school and the free children's area, Malbi Park. In summer walkers head for the Augstenberg, the Schönberg, the Pfälzerhütte or over the Sareiserjoch into Austria.

The valley also serves the lowlands: drinking water collected in Malbun is used by the municipality of Vaduz to generate power at the Schlosswald power station, and the Schneeflucht drinking-water power plant opened in 2011.

Malbun's food is the cuisine of Liechtenstein, influenced above all by Switzerland and Austria. Cheese and soups are central, and dairy products are everywhere thanks to a large dairy industry — fitting for a valley that has been summer pasture for centuries. Käsknöpfle are small dumplings topped with cheese or onions; Hafalaab is a soup with ham or bacon and cornmeal dumplings; and Torkarebl is a porridge dish that resembles dumplings. Saukerkas is a cheese made in Liechtenstein.

Rösti, coarsely grated potato that is fried, is a staple, as are schnitzel, smoked meats and sausages. Ribel, a grain, is eaten too. Milk is drunk as a beverage by many people, alongside coffee, cocoa and beer, and three meals a day is the norm.

In the village, the hotels and restaurants on the valley floor feed skiers and walkers. For a wider choice, the cafés and restaurants around the main square in Vaduz serve hearty Liechtenstein, Swiss and Austrian dishes.