What is Volksmarching?
- A way to stay healthy while enjoying Germany
- A fun day out with your family
- An opportunity to visit places you’ve never heard of before
- A glance into German culture
Relaxing, recreational activity can be as rewarding as competitive sports. That’s what some farsighted Europeans believed back in 1968 when they created the IVV. Their program was simple: hold events where any person could participate, and finishers earn awards. Of course, all who finish are winners from a ‘health’ standpoint.
Today, thousands of clubs throughout the world, including the USA and Canada, as well as all over Europe, sponsor IVV walking, swimming, and bicycling events.
You set your own pace. No special equipment or training is needed, just the desire to explore both town and country for the fun of it.
Event Sponsors mark the route and offer free drinks along the way. At the finish you get stamps in your notebooks (Hefte) for kilometers and events. They offer refreshments at reasonable prices and sometimes provide entertainment.
Getting some exercise can be tons of fun.
Get out and try an IVV event near you!
How to Volksmarch
- Decide where you are going, and which type of volksmarch you’d like to do: an event, a permanent walk, or a guided walk.
- Buy your start card.
- Walk and enjoy your surroundings.
- Stop at all Control Points to get your start card stamped.
- At the end, take your start card to the IVV Stempel station to turn it in and get your stamps in your Record Notebooks.
- Enjoy a small lunch or some coffee and cake before heading home.
