Rankweil

Rankweil
Coat of arms
Rankweil Location within Austria
Location in the district
Coordinates: 47°16′00″N 09°39′00″E / 47.26667°N 9.65000°E / 47.26667; 9.65000Coordinates: 47°16′00″N 09°39′00″E / 47.26667°N 9.65000°E / 47.26667; 9.65000
Country	Austria
State	Vorarlberg
District	Feldkirch
Government
• Mayor	Martin Summer (ÖVP)
Area
• Total	21.87 km2 (8.44 sq mi)
Elevation	468 m (1,535 ft)
Population (1 January 2016)
• Total	11,731
• Density	540/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	6830
Area code	05522
Vehicle registration	FK
Website	www.rankweil.at

Rankweil is a town in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg in the district Feldkirch. It is the second largest town in the district Feldkirch and the eighth largest town in Vorarlberg.

Rankweil is as a place of pilgrimage, known for its Basilica.

Rankweil is located in the upper Rhine Valley. It is the third most western town in Austria. The largest river of Rankweil is the Frutz from which the Mühlbach is diverted. The Mühlbach is channeled through Rankweil for utilization by ten hydroelectric plants.

The two quarters of Rankweil are Brederis and Rankweil. The town adjoines (in clockwise direction, starting from north) Koblach, Röthis, Sulz, Zwischenwasser, Laterns, Übersaxen, Satteins, Göfis, Feldkirch and Meiningen.

At the time of the Roman Empire, today’s Rankweil was known as "Vinomna". Vinomna was a transport hub where paved Roman roads converged, including the main road from Chur to Augsburg. Rankweil itself was first mentioned in 842.

In 1375 the Counts of Montfort sold the dominion Feldkirch, and thus Rankweil, to the Habsburgs. In 1618 Rankweil was granted market right. Since its founding in 1918, Rankweil belongs to the Austrian state of Vorarlberg.