ATTRACTIONS
NATIVE OF THE ’BURG STARTS FIRST INTERNATIONAL WALKING CLUB IN AMERICA A
Kenn Knopp founded Volkssportverein Friedrichsburg in 1976.
local walking club with a history dating back to 1976 has established five self-paced, year-round routes for walkers throughout the Hill Country.
— Standard-Radio Post file photo
There are three inside the Fredericksburg city limits and two outside. All five walks have been developed between 5K (3.1 miles) and 10K (6.2 miles) distances by the Volkssportverein Friedrichsburg (VVF). Longer distances are available on other walks throughout the area. These walks are sanctioned by the American Volkssport Association as Year-Round Walks, which means anyone can walk them almost any day of the year. Fredericksburg native Kenn Knopp was visiting his distant relatives in Germany in 1976. He was taken on an afternoon stroll by his relatives to a cemetery where his relatives were buried. The stroll turned out to be a six-mile ordeal. When he returned to Fredericksburg, he formed a walking club and registered it with the international headquarters of Volkssportverein in Germany and Volkssportverein Friedrichsburg (People’s Sports Association Fredericksburg) became “The First in Texas, the First in the U.S.A.” All walks are sanctioned by the American Volkssport Association as Year-Round Walks. Check-in for the in-town walks is at Sunday House Inn and Suites, 501 E. Main St. The two rural walks both have starting points inside park visitor centers. At each location, participants should ask the personnel for the Walk Box from which they can obtain maps of the self-guided walks as well as other items needed if walking for credit. The start of the walk itself may involve a drive to a different location. It was noted that the walks can only be done during daylight hours.
108
FREDERICKSBURG WALKS The three city walks include: AVA PILGRIMAGE — This walk is a self-guided tour of the Historical District and honors the heritage of Volkssporting in America, which began here in June of 1976. CEMETERY WALK — Participants taking this route will start at Marktplatz and will walk through two historic cemeteries in Fredericksburg. One location — DER STADT FRIEDHOF — was established in 1846 when the town was founded, and the other — ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC CEMETERY — was established in 1850. The route continues on tree-lined streets on the north side of town. CROSS MOUNTAIN WALK — The beginning location for this trek is Cross Mountain Park. At the top, participants can take in a 360-degree-view of Fredericksburg and the surrounding countryside. Spring&Summer2021
