Knüllgebirgsverein

The Knüllgebirgsverein e.V. (KGV) is a German hiking association based in Neukirchen (Knüll) in Northern Hesse. It was founded in 1884 by the royal forest master Hugo Borgmann under the name "Knüllclub", with the twin goals of promoting tourism and the economic development of the remote Knüll region. Over time the club grew into the Knüllgebirgsverein, a registered association (e.V.) entered in the register of associations at the Marburg district court. Today it is the umbrella organisation of 14 branch associations (Zweigvereine) spread from the Schwalm landscape across the Knüllgebirge to the Fulda and Werra rivers, with roughly 2,000 members. The association's core task is the maintenance and marking of a hiking trail network. It looks after 64 hiking trails, including local circular routes and sections of long-distance trails such as the Lulluspfad, the Frau-Holle-Pfad and the Wildbahn. The main trails alone have a total length of about 1,800 km. Beyond trail work, the KGV is active in nature conservation, regional culture and environmental protection. It is a member of the Verband Deutscher Gebirgs- und Wandervereine (German Association of Mountain and Hiking Clubs) and publishes a club magazine, the Knüllgebirgsbote, every two months, as well as having issued Knüllführer guidebooks. Since 2007 it has operated an information centre with a club archive on the Knüllköpfchen hill. The club's history is closely tied to the economic opening-up of the Knüll area; its early lobbying contributed to the construction of the Treysa–Niederaula railway line. Under chairman Harry Heußner (1919–1950) the association experienced a major upswing. Two towers honour former leaders: the Borgmannturm on the Eisenberg and the Heussner-Turm on the Mengshäuser Kuppe near Niederaula. The KGV presents itself as a welcoming host for hikers and visitors in the "Rotkäppchenland" (Little Red Riding Hood Country), inviting people to explore the varied low-mountain landscape of the region.

The Knüllgebirgsverein was founded in 1884 by the royal forest master Hugo Borgmann (born 26 April 1841; died 3 January 1906) in Neukirchen am Knüll under the name "Knüllclub". Its founding goals were not only hiking but also the economic development of the remote Knüll region, which at the time was poorly connected. The club's advocacy contributed to the construction of the Treysa–Niederaula railway line, which improved access to the area. Over the decades the Knüllclub evolved into the Knüllgebirgsverein e.V. (KGV), a registered association entered in the register of associations at the Marburg district court (VR 3915). A period of significant growth came under chairman Harry Heußner, who led the association from 1919 to 1950. To honour former leaders, two observation towers were built: the Borgmannturm on the Eisenberg and the Heussner-Turm on the Mengshäuser Kuppe near Niederaula. The association expanded its trail network and became a member of the Verband Deutscher Gebirgs- und Wandervereine (German Association of Mountain and Hiking Clubs). It began publishing the club magazine Knüllgebirgsbote every two months and issued Knüllführer guidebooks. In 2007 the KGV opened an information centre with a club archive on the Knüllköpfchen hill. Today the association comprises 14 branch associations (Zweigvereine) with about 2,000 members, covering an area from the Schwalm landscape to the Thuringian state border, and continues to focus on hiking, nature conservation, regional culture and environmental protection.

• 2007

  Information centre with club archive opened on the Knüllköpfchen hill.

• 1950

  End of Harry Heußner's chairmanship; the Heussner-Turm on the Mengshäuser Kuppe honours him.

• 1919

  Harry Heußner begins his chairmanship, leading to a major upswing until 1950.

• 1884

  Founded as "Knüllclub" by royal forest master Hugo Borgmann in Neukirchen am Knüll.

A membership-based hiking and conservation association promoting tourism and nature in the Knüll region of Northern Hesse.

• Main hiking trail network (1,800 km)

• 64 maintained hiking trails

• Long-distance trail sections: Lulluspfad, Frau-Holle-Pfad, Wildbahn

• Knüllgebirgsbote (club magazine, bimonthly)

• Knüllführer (guidebooks)

• Information centre and club archive on Knüllköpfchen

1. 1Startseite - Knüllgebirgsverein e.V.knuellgebirgs-verein.de
2. 2Über uns - Knüllgebirgsverein e.V.knuellgebirgs-verein.de
3. 3Knüllgebirgsverein - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Knüllgebirgsverein - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org