The European Ramblers’ Association (ERA) was founded in Germany in 1969 and by 1971 consisted of 14 ramblers’ organisations from 6 countries. Today, this umbrella organisation comprises more then 50 ramblers’ organisations from 28 European states (+3 ramblers’ organisations from Israel and Morocco as observers). These organisations have a total of over 3 million individual members. Most of the member organisations have more than fifty years’ experience in organising and creating conditions to facilitate walking (path marking, construction of huts, viewing towers, shipyards, campsites etc.) and a number of them have been in existence for more than one hundred years (the oldest for more than 130 years).
Start of European Ramblers' Association
October 19, 1969
Wir Wanderer, für die die Natur und Landschaft weder an Ländergrenzen noch an Erdteilen aufhört, müssen überzeugte Vertreter der Auffassung sein, daß alle Menschen gleich welcher Nationalität, Rasse, Farbe, Religion, oder politischer Richtung, gleichwertige und gleichberechtigte Mitbürger einer die Menschheit umfassenden Gemeinde sind.
This Quotation of Dr. Georg Fahrbach is typical for his absolute motivation in rambling activities. Dr. Fahrbach finally established the Ramblers' Association after long negotiations on October 19, 1969 in Raichberg.
Presidents of the ERA:
1969 - 1976: Georg Fahrbach, Germany
- died the 12 February 1976
1976 - 1979: Paul Schäublin, Switzerland - retired February 1979. To the next General Assembly, ERA was leaded by the two vice-presidents Jean Braun and Konrad Schubach
1979 - 1985: Konrad Schubach, Germany
1985 - 1994: Robert Wurst, Austria
1994 - 1997: Hubert Yseboodt, Belgium
1997 - 2009: Jan Havelka, Czech Republic
2009 - : Lis Nielsen, Denmark
| 
