130 years of nature lovers – historical hike is reminiscent of moving history of nature closeness and solidarity

On April 14, 1895, nature lovers went on a hike together for the first time. A month earlier, the founding members Georg Schmiedl and Simon Katz in the Wiener Arbeiter-Zeitung Called up to found a tourist group. On Easter Sunday, 62 participants met at the Südbahnhof, recognizable on the Arbeiter-Zeitungand hiked from Mödling to the Anating. The club name “Naturfreunde” was decided only four days later.

Already two years after the foundation, the first edition of the magazine was published on July 15, 1897 The nature lover. Dr. Karl Renner, later one of the most important political designers in Austria, wrote about the deep connection to nature: “We love them with tree and bush, meadow and forest, flowers and flowers, with hills and highs, with rock and flood, with peaks and glaciers.”

Socio -political milestones of the socialist environmental organization

Since its foundation, nature lovers have not only promoted the right to relax in nature, but also advanced social achievements: from the construction of the first shelter on the Padasterjoch, the struggle for the free right of way and, last but not least, resistance to fascism and use for democratic values. Today, nature lovers are an international movement that focuses on people and their sustainable relationship with nature.

With over 350,000 members worldwide, nature lovers remain true to their tradition and are committed to a just society. It is remarkable in the history of the organization that women were allowed to enter the club from the start. Nature lovers have also been known as an environmental organization since the 1970s and have set standards worldwide for responsible use of nature. With over 9000 volunteers, nature lovers are one of the largest leisure clubs in Austria.

On the paths of nature lovers: historical hike as a symbol act for maintaining the cultural heritage

Today, on April 14th, the nature lovers hike together on the paths of the founding members. Reminding us together testifies to the strong cohesion of the organization. “Most recently, nature lovers campaigned for the preservation of the cultural heritage of Austria and, together with the members of the VAVÖ, demanded financial support from the federal government.” Günter Abraham, nature lover, federal manager and Vavövice President. This could result in huts in need of renovation, which in turn saves the alpine infrastructure. Free right of way and associated with the right to relax in the Austrian mountain landscape has remained a central component of the demands of nature lovers since 130: And so it has been called “Berg Frei!”