Neu-Ems Castle

Neu-Ems Castle is a medieval castle in Hohenems in the province of Vorarlberg, Austria. It was the fortification of the nobility Herren von Ems. Neu-Ems Castle is above sea level.

Location

The castle is in the mountainside east of the town, in its mountain village Emsreute on a crest above the Rhine valley.

Approved by Louis IV, [Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Louis IV the Bavarian], Ritter Ulrich I. von Ems in 1343 built a new castle to have a comfortable home for his large family in dangerous times. He placed it near his fortress Alt-Ems on a hilltop.
During the Appenzell Wars in 1407 the castle was destroyed and rebuilt shortly afterwards.
In 1603 a chapel was assembled to the ground floor. Except two lancet windows in the northern wall there is nothing left over of it today. Since 1835 the former winged altar of this chapel is exhibited in the Tyrolean State Museum in Innsbruck.
Since 1843 the stronghold is privately owned by the family Waldburg-Zeil.