Going back to the beginning

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THE first youth hostel was founded by Richard Schirrmann around 1909. Schirrmann was a German teacher who organized trips and visits with his students. During one of these excursions, a sudden rainstorm forced the group to seek shelter in an empty school.

It was then that Schirrmann got the idea of using schools that were empty during holidays as guest houses for young people traveling in groups in the countryside. The idea caught on very quickly. By the 1930s there were more than 2,000 hostels in Germany.

The idea spread throughout the rest of Europe. After an important international conference in 1932, the idea was exported to the US, as well as many other countries. The International Youth Hostel Federation was born with the hope of providing cheap accommodation for young travelers.

With time, the concept of the hostel has broadened, and now hostels accept guests of all ages. They provide cheap but comfortable accommodation, and a unique atmosphere that cannot be found in hotels.