German youth hostels not just for the young anymore

A recent article at Deutsche Welle talks about the origins of youth hostels almost 100 years ago.

""Each bed consists of a sack tightly stuffed with straw, a pillow, two bed sheets and a wool blanket" -- that's how teacher Richard Schirrmann envisioned a possible "stopping place for the wander-happy youth of Germany" almost 100 years ago. On an eight-day hike with his class, he himself had had to seek out shelter with an accommodating farmer, or spend the night with his charges in an empty village school. Out of this experience, he developed the idea of the youth hostel."

You can read the full article here.