The Alpine Peace Crossing is a spiritual mountain hike, initiated and sponsored by BNP Paribas Austria. It follows the route of 5,000 Jewish refugees, who fled across the 2,634 m high Krimml Tauern mountains in 1947. Alpine Peace Crossing is seen as a universal symbol of peace and support of the world’s refugees. The 2009 edition gathered 134 people, including refugees and asylum seekers, who participated in the hike, making it a success for the third consecutive year.

The Alpine Peace Crossing has had a remarkable catalytic effect. The presidents of Austria Heinz Fischer and Italy Giorgio Napolitano have accepted the “Honorary Patronage” of the project. In addition, a “Honorary Committee” of 150 distinguished international personalities has been formed and peace forums were held.

Ernst Löschner, Senior Advisor at BNP Paribas Austria, is the founder of the Alpine Peace Crossing. He sees this project as a matter of personal involvement and dedication, and shares with us his inspiration:

“ When the Alpine Peace Crossing concept was developed, it was our wish and goal from the very outset that it would not only be in 2007 – the 60th anniversary of the flight of the Jews in 1947 – that a spiritual celebration would take place. The basic premise of the APC was and is to create a symbol of peace and to dedicate this to all refugees around the world. Even after the Second World War, there has not been a single year in which people have not been forced to abandon their homes!”

“It was a very positive day for me when, in December 2007, Erich Czerny, the young mayor of Krimml, contacted me with the idea of establishing Krimml as a place of “Peace Dialogue” with regard to the current refugee situation, and combining this dialogue with the 2-day “APC Peace Hike”. Young people especially, both in Austria and abroad, are invited to participate in this program. In the years to follow, this will become a reality, each time with a new focus on current refugee issues.”

The Alpine Peace Crossing sends a message of peace, with an appeal to each and every individual to help all those who may be categorized as “displaced persons”. It also highlights the plight of present-day refugees across the globe.