Alt-Ems

The fortress extends over 800 meters along a hilltop, containing remnants of seven gates, a drawbridge location, and 47 former chambers at 740 meters elevation.

The Welfs constructed the castle in the 12th century, which later endured significant damage during the Appenzeller Wars in 1407 and underwent multiple reconstruction phases.

The castle grounds host contemporary sculpture exhibitions since 2014, merging medieval architecture with modern art installations in an open-air setting.

The ruins undergo continuous preservation work since 2006, with recent efforts focusing on stabilizing the northeastern palace wall for visitor safety.

The central courtyard contains Konrad's Fountain, which research revealed to be an engineered cistern system filtering water through gravel rather than a natural spring.

Location: Hohenems

Inception: 12 century

Address: Schloßberg

GPS coordinates: 47.36350,9.69597

Latest update: March 6, 2025 23:33