Bad Kleinkirchheim celebrates the opening of the new village square!

Bad Kleinkirchheim celebrates the opening of the new village square!

Bad Kleinkirchheim is facing an exciting innovation: the new village square will officially open on October 11, 2025. The heart of the small health resort should not only function as a lively meeting place for locals and guests, but also serve as a stage for cultural and culinary events. This reports meinkreis.at.

Mayor Matthias Krenn emphasizes the importance of the square for social interaction in the town. “This is an important step to strengthen the community,” said Krenn. The opening program from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. promises musical contributions, regional cuisine and guided tours that will introduce visitors to the new conditions. From 2 p.m., guests can explore the gourmet market as part of the culinary nights, which showcase the diversity of the region.

A lighthouse project for Bad Kleinkirchheim

The idea for the village square came about as part of a master plan for community development and was awarded the Lighthouse Promotion Prize of the State of Carinthia in 2022. The total investment of 2.4 million euros is being realized with the support of the state of Carinthia and the LEADER Region Nockregion. State Councilor Sebastian Schuschnig (ÖVP) is providing 590,000 euros from the tourism department, while a further 250,000 euros will come from local and regional development and the LEADER program ots.at reported.

The new space will also serve as the location for the weekly farmers' market, where products from the regional Slow Food Community and the UNESCO Carinthian Nockberge Biosphere Park will be available. In addition, the village square is not only used as a meeting place, but also as a starting point for leisure activities such as the Alpe-Adria Trail stage 17 and regional mountain bike tours.

A space for everyone

The newly designed spa park between the St. Kathrein thermal baths and the Maibrunnbahn is designed as an open meeting space. Family gatherings, markets and festivals should be able to take place here. The Franz Klemmer sculpture by artist Egon Gruber, which will also be unveiled on the village square, allows visitors to receive a personal greeting from ski racing legend Franz Klemm via a QR code.

The initiative to develop beautiful rural regions is not only being promoted in Bad Kleinkirchheim, but is also a far-reaching concern. Active village communities and civic engagement are loud bmleh.de crucial for the future design of such places. This is particularly important in sparsely populated areas where maintaining utilities is a major challenge.

With this new meeting place, Bad Kleinkirchheim is taking an important path towards a lively and social community. The project not only combines innovation and tradition, but also brings a breath of fresh air for locals and guests.