Voices along the Via Alpina

The Via Alpina is more than just a hiking trail – it is a symbol of the solidarity between the Alpine regions. Since it was established, 25 years ago, it has inspired countless people to experience the Alpine landscape in a sustainable way. However, the growing popularity of long-distance hiking also raises questions about nature conservation, infrastructure and regional development. This is where the podcast series ‘Voices along the Via Alpina’ comes in, as Communications Manager Michael Gams explains: “Through personal stories and experiences, we trace the development of the Via Alpina and convey the importance of sustainable Alpine tourism”. The aim is to raise awareness of the Via Alpina as a cross-border cultural and natural experience, adds Nora Leszczynski, coordinator of the Via Alpina at CIPRA International.

Alpine hikers and pioneers

Do nature and tourism have to be opposites? How can the destruction of the Alpine region by traffic and climate change be stopped? Do young people still have a future in their homeland? Swiss Alpine researcher Dominik Siegrist explores questions like these in his book ‘Alpenwanderer – Eine dokumentarische Fußreise von Wien nach Nizza’. In 2017, he explored the Via Alpina as a long-distance hiker together with friends from the ‘Whatsalp’ project. In the first podcast episode, he talks about his experiences. The young filmmaker Zoé Lemaitre from Grenoble/F is another guest in the podcast series. In 2023 she hiked the entire Via Alpina from Trieste to Monaco and met a number of strong women, whom she describes as ‘pioneers’. The film will be released in 2025 and will also be shown in Liechtenstein in cooperation with CIPRA International. Further editions of ‘Voices along the Via Alpina’ are planned, including a live podcast discussion on International Mountain Day.

Further information on the project and the podcast series:  www.cipra.org/en/voices-along-the-via-alpina