Rankweil is a town in the westernmost 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. Geography Rankweil is located in the southern Rhine Valley. Its largest river is the Frutz, from which the Mühlbach was channeled off through the town for utilization by ten hydroelectric plants. The two precincts of Rankweil are Brederis and Rankweil. The town adjoins Koblach, Röthis, Sulz, Zwischenwasser, Laterns, Übersaxen, Satteins, Göfis, Feldkirch and Meiningen. History At the time of the Roman Empire, today's Rankweil was known as "Vinomna". Vinomna was a transport hub where stone-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 of Feldkirch, including Rankweil, to the Habsburgs. In 1618 Rankweil was granted market rights. Since its founding in 1918, Rankweil has belonged to the Austrian state of Vorarlberg. Politics Rankweil's current mayor is Katharina Wöß-Krall, of the People's Party Rankweil. She has been in office since 2019. The local council of Rankweil consists of 33 members. Demographics Rankweil has been awarded a “family plus”-community – an award from the state of Vorarlberg for family-friendly communities. Notability and landmarks Rankweil is a place of pilgrimage, known for its Basilica. Other sites include: Pilgrimage church Unsere Liebe Frau Mariä Heimsuchung (Our Dear Lady Mary Visitation): The pilgrimage church, also called the Basilica Rankweil, had its beginnings around 700 as a fortress church. It has been at the center of a large parish since the 9th century. The church was badly damaged by a fire in the Old Zürich War in 1445. From 1470 onwards, the church was renovated and expanded. The central image of pilgrimage, a linden wood sculpture of Mary with her child, was created by the sculptor Johannes Rueland in 1470. Since 1757, the sculpture has been embedded in a gold-plated, Rococo-style altar. The church received the title of a Minor Basilica in 1985 and is located on an Austrian stretch of the Camino de Santiago. The church is also depicted on Rankweil's coat of arms. St. Peter's Church: St. Peter's Church, first mentioned in 817, is located in the old center of Rankweil. It was converted to Baroque-style in 1627. Open-Air Museum “Villa Rustica”: The Villa Rustica is an agricultural estate, consisting of several buildings;