Meißen honors female alpinists: big sisters and their mountain heritage!

Meißen honors female alpinists: big sisters and their mountain heritage!

In a moving look back at the remarkable achievements of two Meissen women, a special event honoring Margarete and Elsbeth Große took place on August 20th. A plaque was unveiled at the Neumarktschule in honor of the sisters, who were not only mountaineers but also balloonists and teachers. The school's students created relaxing chairs and a piano area around the pavilion to add a festive atmosphere to the day. “It is important that we tell the stories of such women,” emphasizes Jutta Schuster, who took part in this celebration together with Ursula Liebau as a former student. Both women, born in 1933, leafed through an 82-year-old class photo in which Margarete Große, who was born in 1876, can be seen. Sächsische.de reports that the look back also contains something wistful, as many of the former classmates have now died and only one living classmate is known.

But what made these sisters so special? Margarete and Elsbeth were true pioneers of mountain sports. Born into a merchant family in Meißen, they soon discovered their passion for nature and mountaineering. As early as 1899 they joined the German and Austrian Alpine Club, which was the starting signal for their numerous expeditions. Her enthusiasm led her to impressive peaks such as the Großglockner and the Zugspitze, as well as to outstanding balloon flights, which made her the fifth and seventh woman in Germany to be awarded the free balloon pilot's license. While Elsbeth, who was born in 1879, wrote meticulous diaries of over 5,500 pages about her adventures, Margarete also presented her experiences in alpine magazines. City Wiki Meissen offers a deep insight into the remarkable achievements of the sisters who campaigned for equal rights in mountaineering and are considered pioneers.

A look into the past

The Große sisters not only made mountain sports history, but were also heavily involved in education. Margarete taught French and English at the secondary girls' school in Bautzen and later in Meißen. Looking back, her passion for mountaineering was remarkable at a time when women were often out of the spotlight. Historically, it was not easy to document successful women in sports in the 19th and 20th centuries. But the extraordinary achievements of alpinists like Margarete and Elsbeth are now increasingly in focus. The Alpine Club highlights that interest in these stories has recently been growing, supported by social media.

Today the Alpine community is attracting more and more women. Statistics show that in 2022, 43.6% of the members of the German Alpine Club were female. A trend that gives hope for the future despite the challenges in a sport traditionally dominated by men. With their lives and their deeds, the Great Sisters have opened doors for many who are conquering the mountain world today. A small path named after them commemorates not only their memories, but also all the countless women who inspired them.