The book is an invitation to take walks around the “Schlossberg” (castle hill) in Hohenems. Upon opening, the banderole that encloses the cover turns into two postcards. One of them functions as a map of trails so that the walks described in the book can be actively explored. 

“If you asked an emigrated Hohenemser what he misses most about his home town, you would probably hear: the Schlossberg! And what do you offer a dear visitor?”

These are the first lines in the preface of this trilingual book, and they can also be found on the cover. The answer to this inviting question is given on the first three double pages and serves as a table of contents as well:

“You accompany him up the Schlossberg …
(Chapter 1: Walks up the Schlossberg)
… and proudly point out to him the “old castle”, the ruins of Alt-Ems.
(Chapter 2: Castle ruins of Alt-Ems)
The towering rock is the “show-piece” and secret center of the city of Hohenems.”
(Chapter 3: Views down to the city of Hohenems and to the Schlossberg)

Three specially prepared maps complement the pictures and texts, and each stands at the beginning of a chapter to serve as a general guidance for going through the book.
The index at the end of the book shows miniatures of all pages that contain images. This feature is not only helpful when searching for a particular photograph, but at the same time gives a good impression of the rhythmical composition of the book.

These details make the coffee-table book in classical design notable and extraordinary.

Peter Mathis, Rösle Häfele: Schlossberg

Hohenems: Bucher Verlag, 2006, ISBN 978-3-902525-44-4

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