Via Alpina and Ruperti Trail

VIA ALPINA AND RUPERTI TRAIL THE LONG DISTANCE HIKING LOOP THROUGH 5 NATIONAL PARKS AND 3 COUNTRIES Editor and Publisher: National Secretariat Via Alpina Austria and Germany, Department of Spatial Planning and Nature Conservation of the Austrian Alpine Association (OeAV) Texts: Triglav National Park Management, Gesäuse National Park Management, Kalkalpen National Park Management, Berchtesgaden National Park Management, Hohe Tauern National Park Management, Via Alpina National Secretariat Austria and Germany, Peter Šilak, Franz Genger, Rudi Felber, Arnold Kreditsch, Susanne Schwab, Erika and Fritz Käfer, Christina Schwann Extracts from the OeAV (Austrian Alpine Association) yearbooks of 1961, 1968, 1976, hiking guide “Österreichischer Weitwanderweg 10 (Rupertiweg)” (Austrian Long-Dis- tance Hiking Trail 10, Ruperti Trail) by Erika and Fritz Käfer, privately published by the long-distance hiking section of the Austrian Alpine Association, 2007. Translations: German - English: Markus Wieland, Steve Tomlin Maps: Latitude-Cartagène / Geosys-Mona / Teleatlas / Network of Alpine protected areas, Randonnées Créations (Jean-Philippe Repiquet), Art’Graphi Créations (Sophie Simon) Reproduction with consent from the BEV – Bundesamt für Eich- und Vermessungswesen (Federal Office for Calibration and Measurement) in Vienna, EB 2008/00307, p. 32. Layout and Graphic Design: Christina Schwann - National Secretariat Via Alpina Austria and Germany, Department of Spatial Planning and Nature Conservation of the Austrian Alpine Association (OeAV) Printing: Samson Druck GmbH - St. Margarethen Cover Pictures: f.l.: “View on the Königssee with the Watzmann east wall” – Berchtesgaden National Park Management; “Reißeck balcony trail” – G. Mussnig, Hohe Tauern National Park Management – Carinthia; The “Goldlochquelle” (Golden Lair Fountain) – F. Sieghartsleitner, Kalkalpen National Park Management; “On the top of the Črna prst” – F. Mihelič – Triglav National Park Management; “View of the Hochtor group from the Johnsbachsteg trail” – A. Hollinger – Gesäuse National Park Management Picture Credits: Angermann, P.: p. 30, p. 31, p. 32-33 Archive of Hohe Tauern National Park – Carinthia: p. 30, p. 31 Archive of Stift Admont: p. 18 Böhme, W.: p. 31 Gstalder, R.: p. 4, p. 5 Hagspiel-Photography-8952: p. 19, p. 24-25 Hollinger, A.: p. 12, p. 18, p. 19 Kleider, M.: p. 5, p. 7, p. 9 Klinar: p. 13 Kovacs, F.J.: p. 18-19 Kren, E.: p. 18, p. 19 Lerch, J.: p. 12, p. 35 Mihelič, F.: p. 6, p. 7, p. 9, p. 12, p. 13, p. 14, p. 15, p. 20. p. 21 Mussnig, G.: p. 30-31 Berchtesgaden National Park Management: p. 13, p. 26-27 Pointl, A.: p. 10, p. 11 Schleching, S.: p. 6-7 Schwann, Ch.: p. 4, p. 4-5, p. 6, p. 7, p. 8, p. 8-9, p. 9, p. 28-29 Sieghartsleitner, F.: p. 12, p. 13, p. 22-23 Šilak, P.: p. 4 Zdešar, F.: p. 8, p. 14, p. 14-15, p. 16-17 Zlodej, W.: p. 5 This publication was published by funds from the VIADVENTURE project – which is co-financed by the European Union (European Funds for Regional Development) and the eight Alpine countries within Community initiative Interreg IIIB-Alpenraum. (www.alpinespace.org) The masculine form always includes the feminine form in the text. Innsbruck, 2008 ia Alpina and Ruperti Trail V The long distance hiking loop through 5 national parks and 3 countries 5,000 km of trails, 5 routes through eight countries, from 0 m sea level up to over 3,000 m, impressive scenes of nature and old cultures ranging over centuries – along the Via Alpina through the Alps. VSimply extraordinary: the national parks, where the wilderness is able to unfurl as it has been doing for thousands of years, where people can learn many things from nature, and where tran- quillity and relaxation are the highest priority. This long-distance hiking trail connects five national parks and three countries along the Purple Trail of Via Alpina and the Austrian long-distance hiking trail no. 10 – the Ruperti Trail. A very special journey through the heart of the Alps. Ruperti Trail National Parks ia Alpina and its Philosophy Via Alpina started in 2000 as The result is admirable: five routes, main completely suppressed in this teraction of animal and humans, de- an Interreg VIIIB Alpine Space divided into 342 daily stages, over fast-paced age. pendent upon the season, all make project. The concept of an in- 5,000 km of trails. The fact that no Walking, however, allows you to be up this very diverse habitat. ternational, transalpine trail new trail needed to be established a lot more aware of your surround- stems from an initiative by the is amazing. The close net of hiking ings and of small details. Walk- Hiking does not require a lot of Grande Traversée des Alpes – a trails, which are primarily main- ing allows you to not only become technological aids, is environmen- French association for tourism tained and marked by local Alpine aware of the beauty and unique- tally-friendly, peaceful – a kind of development. The idea was to associations and tourism organiza- ness of a larger, inter-connected tourism, which responds to the con- find a route through the Alps tions, as well as numerous mountain area of Alpine nature and culture, ditions of the landscape, and not connecting existing trails and refuges, offer optimal conditions for but it also races awareness that this the other way around. paths and leading you through a hiking holiday that is filled with is a very vulnerable area to exploi- Those who get started on the trail, nearly all mountain ranges: an adventure, enjoyment, impressions tation and maltreatment. Its animal and “let themselves go” for a few expedition taking you through of nature and new acquaintances. and plant habitats are being pushed days, will be able to feel and appre- the diversity of nature and cul- to the edges. Via Alpina would like ciate this “Spirit of Via Alpina”. tures in a unique region. However the Via Alpina philosophy is to bring the valuable treasures of not only hiking – although this type old cultures and traditions to your In eight Alpine countries (Italy, of travelling indeed is the most suit- attention: ancient knowledge about Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Swit- able to convey its message. Human the conditions of the landscape, its zerland, Liechtenstein, France and perception is not adjusted to quick potential dangers, and the close in- Monaco), different private and pub- mobility and many impressions re- lic institutions cooperated on the implementation of this unique project. v.org lpcon ww.a rg w lpina.o ww.via-a w Koča na Prevalu - Slo. View of the Niederjochferner - A. The village, Saorge - F. Church at Dientmannsdorf - A. Madone de Fenestre - F. Wendelstein, with its spectacular view - D. Impressive Carnic range - A. VIA ALPINA AND THE ALPINE Tourism, Soil conservation, Energy trail maintenance, sign-posting and scape that is old yet full of tradition, CONVENTION and Transport as well as Population marking, but also for other initia- and a huge selection of biodiversity and culture, which is still in plan- tives directly on and around Via Al- of interest to many guests. Due to its special objectives and ning. pina. Individual municipalities and So why not connect the two – hik- philosophy, Via Alpina was rec- tourist boards also offer packages, ing and national parks, astonish- ognised as one of the first official The objectives of Via Alpina can be sometimes custom-made for Via Al- ment and learning, switching of and implementation projects of the Al- found in nearly all protocols, but pina. Innkeepers and restaurateurs relaxing? pine convention in February 2005. they are especially pronounced in play a special role too, as they will Even if all national parks pursue the The Alpine convention is an inter- the tourism protocol. happily provide information about same goals and have the same mis- national treaty of Via Alpina as well as further trail sions, the five national parks that the Alpine states stages. are presented here are so unique Extract from: Article 6 “Orientation of Touris- and the European Linking together different initiatives that they are able to offer some- tic Development” (BGBl. Nr. 230/2002): Community. With- in the alpine area is becoming in- thing for everyone: from the sunny in the framework “1. The contractual parties integrate the issues of creasingly interesting for the further slopes of the Triglav National Park to of this treaty, the nature conservation and landscape care in tourism development of Via Alpina’s targets. the thunderous Enns in the Gesäuse objectives for the aid. They agree to promote only projects that have From here, applicable symbioses National Park, via the “Water Pal- protection and a low impact on both landscape and environment as ensue. ace” in the Kalkalpen National Park the development far as possible. to the steep cliffs of the Berchtes- of the Alpine 2. The contractual parties initiate a sustainable pol- FIVE NATIONAL PARKS ALONG gaden National Park, and up again area are formu- icy which encourages the competitive ability of na- A STRING OF PEARLS to the high-alpine glacier world of lated. The treaty ture-oriented tourism in the Alpine region and thus the Hohe Tauern National Park. came into effect makes an important contribution to the socio-eco- This great, long-distance hiking trail They all have one thing in common: in 1995, and con- nomic development of the Alpine region. (...)“ through the national parks of east- the Via Alpina and the Ruperti Trail sists of eight the- ern Via Alpina provides us a concrete connect them like pearls on a neck- matic protocols: example. The national park regions lace – to a national park loop trail, Spatial planning and sustainable The Alpine convention is not the play a substantial role in research, whereby the national park regions development, Mountain economy, only important partner of Via Alpina.

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