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Golden ideas blossom: Grießen wins the 2025 village competition!
Freudenberg from the Main-Tauber district received a gold medal in the “Our Village has a Future” competition. The competition promotes innovative village concepts.
Golden ideas blossom: Grießen wins the 2025 village competition!
The winners of the 28th “Our Village has a Future” competition were announced today. In the state decision of one of the most important competitions to promote rural regions, Klettgau / Grießen (Waldshut district) won the gold medal. The villages of Gammertingen / Harthausen-Feldhausen (Sigmaringen district), Biberach / Prinzbach (Ortenau district) and Freudenberg / Rauenberg (Main-Tauber district) can also look forward to the highest award. Silver medals went to Geislingen / Türkheim (Göppingen district) and Herbertingen / Marbach (Sigmaringen district) Baden-Württemberg reports.
What makes semolina so special? The small community has distinguished itself with a variety of projects that strengthen cooperation in the village. Above all, the networking of the villagers through the Förderverein Hilfe e.V. as well as the impressive organization of the town's 900th anniversary, which was initiated by a future workshop. But it's not just celebrations on the agenda: a historic inn was purchased and renovated by a regional development cooperative, and a variety of health services were provided in the form of a medical care center with four doctors. The Klettgau nature conservation group is also active and shows how environmental protection and village community can harmonize.
In his speech, the Minister for Food, Rural Areas and Consumer Protection, Peter Hauk, emphasized the central role of competition in strengthening rural areas. Citizen participation is crucial for development and engagement in communities. Therefore, the competition pays particular attention to innovative concepts as well as economic and cultural initiatives MLR reports.
A competition with tradition
It is noteworthy that the “Our village has a future” competition looks back on a long tradition – it has its origins in the “Our village should become more beautiful” competition founded in 1961. So far 23 villages have taken part in this year's competition. The state commission evaluated the villages from June 2nd to 5th, 2025. The awards will be presented on November 14, 2025 at the Neuer Markt community center in Bühl. Who knows, maybe Grießen will also cut a good figure in the federal decision in 2026.
The aim of the competition is clear: to increase the attractiveness of village life and to get social and cultural projects rolling. Villages with up to 3,000 inhabitants are eligible to participate. Registrations are possible until May 15, 2024, and the ministry supports the communities with a total of 3,000 euros per participating community. But it's not just financial support that plays a role. Exchange and networking in the region are crucial for positive village development BMEL informs.
The competition offers village communities the opportunity to contribute their creative ideas and projects. In this way, they can not only increase the quality of life in their local area, but also make an important contribution to the preservation of rural regions. When we look at the current challenges, from declining population numbers to demands for sustainable housing and local amenities, the role of such competitions is now more important than ever.