Jewish Museum of Hohenems
About This Museum
What truly sets the Jewish Museum of Hohenems apart is its profound focus on a single, vibrant community that was extinguished. It doesn't just display artifacts; it tells the deeply personal story of the Jewish families who lived, worked, and shaped this Austrian town for centuries. The narrative culminates in the tragic destruction of this community under National Socialism, making it a poignant and essential visit. Housed in a beautifully restored villa, the museum feels less like an institution and more like walking through pages of a living, and at times heartbreaking, history book.
Collection Highlights
You'll find everything from the ornate 17th-century Torah curtain of the local synagogue to the simple, everyday objects that filled family homes. One of the most moving exhibits traces individual fates through photographs, letters, and passports stamped with red 'J's, putting names and faces to history's statistics.
Visitor Information
It's easy to spend a quiet afternoon here immersed in the stories. They also host fantastic temporary exhibitions and have a lovely little café in the garden—a perfect spot for reflection after your visit.
Architecture & Building
The museum is located in the former Heimann-Rosenthal Villa, a splendid late-Baroque patrician house with high ceilings and creaking wooden floors that itself feels like part of the collection.
Contact & Location
Address: Hohenems, Bezirk Dornbirn, Vorarlberg, 6845, Österreich
Phone: +43 5576 739890
Website: Visit Website
