A CROSS-BORDER APPLICATION
Since 2019, alpinism has been inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
The UNESCO candidacy mobilized a wide range of actors in France, Switzerland and Italy: alpine clubs, guide companies, practitioners, academics, municipalities, museums and research institutions.
In Switzerland, the initiative was led by the Swiss Mountain Guides Association (ASGM), the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC), and the canton of Valais, under the coordination of the Centre régional d’études des populations alpines (CREPA) and the Federal Office of Culture (FOC).
| Did you know that UNESCO recognizes and values heritage in two ways ? The world heritage designates exceptional natural or cultural sites, such as the terraced vineyards of Lavaux. The intangible cultural heritage, on the other hand, encompasses traditions, skills, knowledge and living cultural expressions, such as practices related to avalanche risk management. |
“THE ART OF CLIMBING MOUNTAINS”
Defined in the UNESCO application as “the art of climbing peaks and walls in high mountains, in all seasons, on rocky or glacial terrain…”, alpinism is distinguished by:
| Skills and knowledge of the mountain a knowledge of the mountains including techniques and equipment | Commitment with measured risk-taking and adaptation to changing conditions |
| Team spirit where solidarity guarantees safety and enriches the shared experience | An ethical point of view the contemplation of the landscape, the elegance of movement, and respect for the natural environment |
“Taking someone into the mountains is about sharing, emotions, it’s about experiencing special moments […]. Mountain guides are also sometimes called memory makers.”
Pierre Mathey, mountain guide and director of the ASGM
At the foot of the North summit of the Aiguille du Tour, ca. 1920 © Émile Gos, Valais Media Library – Martigny
| What is the origin of some of the names given to the summits of the Aiguilles Dorées? Answer on the next board -> |