Hohenems Castle

The origins of the Hohenems family date back to the 12th century, when they served as imperial ministerials guarding the imperial castle of Ems. Their rise in the late Middle Ages was closely linked to military merits and strategic marriages, particularly the union of Wolf Dietrich von Ems with Chiara de Medici. This marriage led to a close relationship with Pope Pius IV, who elevated the family to imperial counts in 1560. Cardinal Mark Sittich III of Hohenems, son of Wolf Dietrich and Chiara de Medici, commissioned the Italian architect Martino Longhi to build the current palace in 1562. In the early 17th century, the castle was expanded under Count Kaspar von Hohenems. After the death of the last reigning imperial count in 1759, ownership passed by inheritance to the Waldburg-Zeil family, in whose private possession it remains to this day. In 1947, the castle suffered severe damage in a fire, which also affected parts of a stored art collection.

Hohenems Castle is located in the small town of Hohenems in the Dornbirn district, Vorarlberg, Austria, at an elevation of approximately 447 m above sea level.

Hohenems Castle remains in the private possession of the Waldburg-Zeil family. A part of the castle now houses a restaurant and event rooms, which are accessible to visitors.

• Alt-Ems Castle Ruin (Castle), approx. 0.5 km away
• Neu-Ems Castle (Castle), approx. 1.3 km away
• Sonderberg Castle (Castle), approx. 3.3 km away
• Jonas Schlössle (Castle), approx. 4.9 km away