Dornbirn - Counts of Waldburg-Zeil Palace

Near the Hohenems parish church stands the palace belonging to the Counts of Waldburg-Zeil (1562), in which two manuscripts of the "Nibelungenlied" were found in 1755 and 1779. During the 17th C. a Jewish community settled in Hohenems, and in 1771-72 a synagogue was built, which now serves as the fire-brigade headquarters. From the palace a footpath leads up in 40minutes to the ruined 12th C. castle of Alt- Ems (713m/2,339ft) and to Glopper castle (Neu-Ems; 14th C.). From the top there are superb views over the Rhine valley to Lake Constance.