Nude mountain walking banned
Monday May 4, 2009 - Email this article to a friend

Dozens of people, mostly Germans, have taken to stripping off to enjoy the fresh mountain air in parts of the Swiss Alps. 

German Web sites that are promoting it describe it as "a special experience of nature, free and healthy" and proclaim nude walking in the Alps has roots back in ancient times.
The German sites also promote walks in France and parts of Germany, where public nudity apparently has roots going back to the 18th century through a movement called "Free Body Culture."

Nudism in more conservative areas of Switzerland is less common.

In the buffThe naked walkers started appearing in Eastern Switzerland last Autumn but there have been less people stripping off for a mountain ramble recently due to the cold winter.

However, the the tiny state of Appenzell Inner Rhodes decided to take no chances and at the end of April they voted overwhelmingly at their traditional open-air annual assembly to ban it.

People described it as "thoroughly disturbing and irritating.”

Now walkers caught in just their socks and boots will be fined 200 Swiss francs (£120).

At least one naked hiker was detained in the area last summer but could not be fined or ordered to put his clothes back on as naked rambling was not against the law.

A similar legal move is expected in neighboring Appenzell Outer Rhodes. The nationalist Swiss People's Party has said that legislation against "this shameless behavior" is currently being drafted.

Bookmark this page

Related Articles