Cultural Exchange

While youth hostels are common worldwide, the fact that the accommodation originated in Germany is less well known. Richard Schirrmann, a German teacher, came up with the idea of providing young hikers with cheap place to sleep while sheltering from a storm during a school trip 98 years ago.

Shirrmann opened the first youth hostel on June 1, 1912 in Altena Castle, in northwestern Germany. Guests are still welcome at Altena, though the original rooms have been turned into a museum.

In the meantime, many other hostels have opened their doors. The German Youth Hostel Association (DJH) runs 562 hostels between Sylt, in the north of Germany, and Oberstdorf, in the south.

Forty hostels are located in old castles and manors, including Nuremberg Castle. Some hostels have been built in ancient city walls, such as the one at Görlitz in Saxony. It is called The Bastion and was completely renovated just a few years ago. If you prefer to be by, or even on, the sea you could stay on a former freight ship turned hostel in Rostock in northern Germany.

Old but not outdated

"Compared to former times, youth hostels have made a complete change," said Knut Dinter of the German youth hostel association, DJH. "There have been great efforts to modernize hostels and to improve the service. One can say that youth hostels are much more than just bed and breakfasts."

The DJH is the largest of the 80 hostelling organizations worldwide, with 74,500 beds and 1.9 million members. The association registered around 10 million overnight stays last year. Membership of the DJH or another national hostelling association is required to stay at German youth hostels. The association was founded in 1919 by Schirrmann as part of a hiking and climbing association, but became independent in 1949.

Going green

With so many hostels located in old manors and castles, renovations have been necessary to bring them into the modern era. But in addition to brightening up the accommodation and providing handicapped accessibility, the hostels are also becoming environmentally friendly.

Germany's first socio-ecological youth hostel was founded in the town of Mirow in the eastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in 2000. The hostel was built using environmentally friendly materials and relies on solar power. Over the past seven years, another 18 youth hostels have become specialized ecological study centers where staff provide information on environmental protection and suggest ecologically sensitive recreational activities.

Many German youth hostels also offer cultural programs covering local history, culture and famous personalities from the area as well as courses visitors can take part in, from making masks to drama workshops. In Bonn, for example, cultural activities center on Beethoven, who was born in the city.

"Most guests like to visit the former political sites and talk about Bonn's political past, but people from Asia, especially Japan, like to visit the Rhine River area -- they call it the 'romantic Rhine,'" said Winfried Hecker of the Bonn hostel.

All about exchange

Youth hostels are also no longer limited to young people. While they make up 80 percent to 90 percent of hostels' clientele, people of all ages, including families, are welcome.

The DJH aims to promote tolerance, international understanding and conservation. In addition to the cultural exchange between travelers, the organization runs international youth exchange programs that addresses issues including combating prejudice, experiences with democracy and the daily life of young people. The association also has a volunteer program, which organizes placements in hostels outside of Germany.

"Youth hostels are real international meeting points, and we would like to promote the ideas of peace and understanding to bring people together," said Dinter.