Hohenems

Hohenems is a market town in the Dornbirn District of Vorarlberg, Austria. It lies in the Rhine Valley near the border with Switzerland, roughly midway between Dornbirn and Feldkirch. The historic town center preserves a mix of medieval and Baroque architecture, reflecting its long history as a local market and administrative site.

A prominent landmark is Schloss Hohenems, a Renaissance palace dating from the 16th century that overlooks the town and has housed cultural venues. The town’s surroundings also feature views of the Rhine Valley and the Alpine landscape typical of Vorarlberg.

Hohenems is notable for its Jewish heritage. A Jewish community long existed in the town, growing in the early modern period and becoming one of the region’s centers of Jewish life. The 18th-century synagogue served as a focal point for the community. During the Nazi era, the synagogue was desecrated in 1938, and Jewish communal life diminished after World War II. In the late 20th century, the Jüdisches Museum Hohenems was established to document the history of Jews in Vorarlberg and to preserve the memory of Hohenems’ Jewish past.

Today, the town combines its historic character with cultural institutions and events. The Schloss Hohenems and the Jewish Museum Hohenems are key attractions, reflecting ongoing efforts to preserve history while fostering tourism and cultural life in a small Alpine town.