Bad Traunstein triumphs: main prize for sustainable village renewal!

Bad Traunstein triumphs: main prize for sustainable village renewal!

In a ceremonial setting, Bad Traunstein was recently awarded the main prize in the 2025 village and urban renewal project competition. This honor took place as part of the celebrations for “40 years of village renewal” at Luberegg Castle. A great moment for Bad Traunstein, which will now represent Lower Austria at the European Village Renewal Award noen.at reported.

Numerous prominent guests were present at the award ceremony, including State Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner, the Mayor of Bad Traunstein, Roland Zimmer, and the Deputy State Governor Stephan Pernkopf. The competition impressively showed that throughout Lower Austria over 30,000 people and almost 800 clubs are actively involved in village renewal, as well as the village and town renewal side documented.

The winning projects at a glance

Bad Traunstein shone in the holistic category and received the main prize. But other projects were also impressive:

• Leben – Miteinander – Ort/Dorf:
  • Platz 1: Jeitendorfer Koch- und Backbuch (D’Jeitendorfer Verein zur Dorferneuerung)
  • Platz 2: Wanderplatzl Trattenbach (Tourismus- und Dorferneuerungsverein Trattenbach)
  • Platz 3: Bewegungspark Ossarn (Stadtgemeinde Herzogenburg)
• Leben – Miteinander – Gemeinde/Stadt:
  • Platz 1: Ziersdorfer Platzl & Gemeindekeller (Ziersdorf)
  • Platz 2: Forum.Hafnerbach (Hafnerbach)
  • Platz 3: Neugestaltung Schulvorplatz (Hollenstein an der Ybbs)
• Stadt- und Ortskernbelebung – Ort/Dorf:
  • Platz 1: Dorfstadl / Dorfplatz (Schollach lebt!)
  • Platz 2: Dorfhaus Alte Volksschule (Waidendorf)
  • Platz 3: Ortskernbelebung Waitzendorf
• Klimafitte Orte – Ort/Dorf:
  • Platz 1: Permakultur Paudorf
  • Platz 2: Begegnungsräume Priel – Ökologisierung
  • Platz 3: Schritt für Schritt – wasserfit (Fallbach)

Honors for long-term projects

The award for the “Waldviertler Dorfspiele” in Grafenschlag, which was awarded in the special category for projects over 25 years old, was particularly pleasing. This shows how important it is to preserve and maintain these valuable traditions, of which there are many documented produce success.

Last but not least, the next award ceremony of the European Village Renewal Award 2024 will take place in Stadtschlaining, Burgenland. The competition under the motto “Lust for the Future” has already produced many exciting projects, such as the Czech municipality of Kostelní Lhota, which was recognized for its innovative approach. This impressively shows how much potential there is in sustainable village development.

A pleasant day for Bad Traunstein and its residents, who are making an important contribution to village renewal with their commitment and creativity! It remains exciting to see how the projects will develop in the future.