St. Christoph am Arlberg - Büchner, Robert 1933- (Böhlau, 2005)
Based on the evaluation of extensive sources the book presents the history of an Alpine pass as a living space for many people. Whether it was merchants, grocers, pedlars, wagoners and sumplers, peasants, shepherds, wardens, hosts, miners, soldiers, messengers, pilgrims, beggars, gypsies or vagrants, they all had to get accustomed to the high mountains and to cope with rain, fog, storm, snow, ice, avalanches, mudflows and rockfalls. The rigour of the weather required frequent repairs of the paths, roads and bridges. Since the end of the fifteenth century, wagoners could no longer pass the Arlberg, only samplers. Among other articles of trade they transported food, especially "Schmalz" (boiled butter) to the towns of Innsbruck and Hall on packhorses and in return brought back salt to Vorarlberg and Switzerland.On the summit of the Arlberg a "Hospiz" (mountain hostel) has provided shelter, supplies of food and help for travellers since 1386.