A historic ring kiln beneath a residential building, visible foundations of a Roman estate and a protected lowland bog reveal three very different sides of Nendeln. The village’s history also spans a 19th-century Hagenhaus and two phases of chapel construction; the keramik werkstatt schaedler adds a craft that continues to this day to its architectural and industrial heritage.

Brickworks and ceramic craftsmanship

The former main building of the brickworks has been preserved in the residential building at “Churer Strasse 63”; a historic ring kiln lies beneath the building. Around 1881, a Hoffmann ring kiln was installed in Nendeln, enabling significantly higher brick production. Nendeln thus illustrates industrial history both through a preserved structural feature and through the technological development of brick production.

In the Eschen village district of Nendeln, the keramik werkstatt schaedler is Liechtenstein’s oldest arts and crafts business. Since 1836, it has produced stoneware tableware in small batches, exclusive art ceramics and tiled stoves. For those interested in crafts, the workshop offers a distinct perspective alongside the architectural heritage: what matters here is not only what has been preserved, but also a long tradition of production. Comparing production methods draws attention to different details than comparing dates: the ring kiln enabled significantly higher brick production, while the workshop makes stoneware tableware in small batches. Local history can therefore be considered not only in terms of construction dates, but also according to the particular methods of production.

Archaeology and architectural history

The foundations of a Roman estate are visible in a field in Nendeln. It was probably built between the late 1st and early 2nd centuries AD. This dating places the archaeological traces in a much earlier period than the 19th-century buildings.

The protected Hagenhaus was built in 1837 and comprises a semi-detached house, a stable and barn, a washhouse and a small shooting lodge. The history of the chapels can also be distinguished chronologically: the Chapel of St Sebastian and St Roch in Nendeln was built in 1935. An older chapel of the same name had been built in 1639 and was demolished when today’s Churer Strasse was widened.

Lowland bog and routes

The protected “Schwabbrünna-Äscher” lowland bog in Nendeln is the second-largest lowland bog in Liechtenstein. It adds a protected landscape to the architectural and archaeological features, offering another point to consider when choosing a destination.

Routes can also be distinguished clearly. The “Through the Nendeln and Mauren Riet” circular hiking trail starts and ends in Nendeln. By contrast, Stage 4 of the Liechtenstein Trail runs from Nendeln via Eschen and Bendern-Gamprin to Ruggell. The circular trail therefore starts and finishes in Nendeln, while the described stage continues to Ruggell. For practical planning, check the current route information.

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