Trekking fans will have 3,000 miles and nine languages to choose from
Trekking and outdoor enthusiasts will no doubt welcome the opening of a 3,000-mile footpath that crosses some of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe.
The Via Alpina is actually a series of linked footpaths that now join Trieste, on Italy’s Adriatic Coast, to the casino resort of Monte Carlo, via Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Switzerland and France.
Today’s Independent newspaper suggests that few are likely to try to walk the whole route as it would take as long as a year to complete, and most sections of the route are only open between 1 July and 15 September. Along the way walkers can take in “old churches, sheep-filled pastures, and ancient Alpine villages”.
There are some 300 places to stay along the route, from simple mountain huts to luxury hotels. The Independent reports that the route crosses international borders some 44 times along the way, and that as many as nine different languages or dialects are in use between the start and finish points.
For more details visit www.via-alpina.com.
