Do you like collecting “evidence” when you exercise? Do you love to hike, but want to be able to have more of a festive feeling or social experience? Have you ever heard of this amazing way to walk around Europe called volksmarching?
What is Volksmarching?
What is volksmarching? Volksmarching is basically an organized hike. All over Europe, and even the world, there are organized hike events, which provide the trail, stamps for each walk, and oftentimes…treats! These began in central Europe, and Germany has always been one of the biggest members, so it’s easy to find a volksmarching event every weekend of the year.
When I lived in the Rhein-Main area in the early 1990s, I discovered volksmarching. I’d always loved hiking, but just heading off and doing a hike all alone was a little past my comfort zone, especially because I had two young daughters that I was dragging along all the time.
Instead, I could find an IVV (Internationaler Volkssportverband) event, knowing there are like-minded, helpful people on the walk with me, end up at a fun hall where I can eat lunch or at least a snack of cake and coffee, and all along collect stamps which when accumulated I get awards.
For me, it’s the perfect way to really see Europe, try local foods, especially the homemade cakes made by the sponsors, and give me an incentive to keep exercising all year long. Seriously, what else is there?
The Basics of Volksmarching
- There are volksmarching events all over Germany, its surrounding countries, and sometimes in much further-reaching places. Where I live, near Ramstein, there are multiple events every single weekend.
- On top of events, there are plenty of permanent walks as well. These are trails that have been approved for stamps that you can walk any day of the week. The only thing you need to pay attention to is the opening hours of the business that sells the start cards.
- Start cards are important. When you buy your start card, it’s where you collect your “proof” that you’ve walked the trail. For an event, there is someone at a stand who will literally “stamp” your card, but on a permanent walk, it’s a code on a sign which you will write on the card. Start cards vary in cost, depending on which country you are walking in, but they are usually around 3 Euros.
- You turn your card in at the end and receive your official walk stamp. These stamps accumulate to make you eligible for certificates of your accomplishments.
- The events start and finishes are usually in a sports hall, and offer refreshments, including homemade baked goods, and often entertainment.
- Many areas have volksmarching clubs that you can join. For example, I am a member of a long-standing German and American club called the Ramstein Roadrunners. And in fact, I have written a lot more about how to volksmarch on its website. So check it out.
Volksmarches/ Hikes We’ve Done in Europe
We’ve walked in ten countries in Europe, and we’re adding country stamps as fast as we can. We’ve walked in Germany, Luxembourg, France, and Belgium the most, because they are well within our day trip radius.
But we’re always looking for walks when we travel, whether we can do an event or a permanent walk, we try to add it our itinerary. In this manner, we’ve also walked in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, and Austria.
Some of our favorite European hikes
Italy – Selva Val Gardena
Conclusion
If you, like me, want to get out, see more of Germany and Europe in a non-traditional, outdoorsy way, then volksmarching is for you.
Author Bio: Corinne Vail is a travel photographer, food lover, and a perpetual traveler who has been travel writing for over 14 years. For many years she lived overseas in Germany, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, and the Netherlands teaching the children of the US. military. She’s visited over 90 countries, and she’s not stopping anytime soon.