From August 23 to September 29, the exhibition Over the Alps: Discover, Appreciate, Live! to be seen in Innsbruck. There, visitors can explore the old Glockner bivouac and the additional varied exhibition elements to learn more about our unique alpine homeland.

The Alpine Convention, the agreement between the Alpine countries and the European Union for the protection and sustainable development of the Alps, has existed for 30 years. On the occasion of this anniversary, the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention, the Austrian Alpine Association and the Pro Vita Alpina Association have put together the exhibition Over the Alps: Discover, Appreciate, Live! designed. The open-air exhibition, which is electrically supported by the state of Tyrol, is intended to bring local guests closer to this fascinating design tool for a good life in the Alps. “The entire Alpine region is currently confronted with major challenges, which will certainly also be tackled by the next generations,” emphasizes Deputy Governor Ingrid Felipe. “Starting with the increasingly visible effects of climate change, the burden of heavy goods traffic crossing the Alps and the necessary further development of tourism here in the mountains, the entire Alpine region must prepare for drastic changes in the coming years.”

To make visible

The exhibition presents the Alps as a place where we live, work and relax. She poses the question: what do we need to maintain this space? This question can only be answered in the context of the concept of sustainable development – an area where the Alpine Convention IS pioneering. “The aim of the exhibition is to bring the Alpine Convention closer to the people who live in the Alps. But it is also about showing the many sides of the Alps: as a place that we call home, as a place where we work and relax, as a place that includes thousands of specific animal and plant species. The exhibition poses the question of what we have to do to preserve this space and develop it sustainably so that it is also available to future generations,” emphasizes the Secretary General of the Alpine Convention, Alenka Smerkolj.

A good life in the Alps

What do we need for a good life in the Alps? This question is addressed in the former Glockner bivouac. The Glockner bivouac is a historic building that has survived many storms since it was built in 1958 below Austria’s highest peak at 3,205 meters. In recent years, however, the bivouac has been affected by wind, weather and the extreme altitude. The Austrian Alpine Club decided to replace it with a new one. The old bivouac steeped in history was taken down from the mountain, restored and found a new use as a unique exhibition space as part of this open-air exhibition. “Before the historic Glockner bivouac was replaced by a new bivouac box, it offered shelter and shelter to numerous people. After being restored by the Alpine Club, the bivouac can now live on as an exhibition space,” says Alpine Club President Andreas Ermacora. According to Ermacora, things come full circle here: “The bivouac is considered a place that offers alpinists refuge on the mountain. In the valley, the historic bivouac is an ideal place to reflect on the more than necessary protection of the Alps.”

bivouac

A special exhibition awaits visitors inside the restored bivouac. It is filled with a collection of objects representing the many facets of life in the Alps – from lifestyles, stories, traditions, new technologies, to traffic and over-tourism. Florentine Prantl, Managing Director of the Pro Vita Alpina association, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary today, explains: “When designing the exhibition, we based ourselves on the original concept of the old cabinets of curiosities, which have been further developed in museums. Collections in which (quickly) everything that seemed important was recorded in one room. Plants, animals, insects, books, pictures, drawings and more, on a wide variety of topics. The exhibition project was realized with a team of artists, scientists, craftspeople, technicians and many “word donors”. of the exhibition – as if the bivouac in its own home – at over 3,000 meters – WILL BE visited.

Unique home

The exhibition shows us the Alps as a living, natural and valuable, but also meaningful and vulnerable habitat and asks the question: How can we preserve it for ourselves and for future generations?
Colorful side elements around the bivouac invite you to reflect on life in the Alps and the Alpine Convention. The side elements deal with central Alpine topics such as the environment, culture and quality of life. A mixture of texts and photos from the entire Alpine region brings this special habitat closer. Visitors are confronted with the challenges of the Alpine region and sensitized – and are encouraged to think about their own contribution to the solutions. It is also important that they are heard: your ideas, thoughts and suggestions can be presented to anyone who is interested Submit online submission.

The exhibition
The traveling exhibition is from August 23rd and until September 29th on the northern Maria-Theresien-Strasse near the market ditch in Innsbruck can be seen publicly and free of charge.

You can read more news from Innsbruck here.