New village square in Bad Kleinkirchheim: celebration and diversity for everyone!

New village square in Bad Kleinkirchheim: celebration and diversity for everyone!

In Bad Kleinkirchheim, the new village square was inaugurated with great joy on October 11, 2025. The celebrations started at 10 a.m.: Mayor Matthias Krenn and Deputy Governor Martin Gruber welcomed the numerous visitors. A centerpiece of the new square is the impressive Franz Klemmer sculpture, designed by artist Egon Gruber. It offers a QR code that allows a personal greeting from the Olympic champion and further information about tourism in the region. The feedback from those present was consistently positive; the square should act as a meeting place for locals, guests and second homes, all year round.

The project received lighthouse funding from the state of Carinthia totaling 590,000 euros. The total costs of the redesign amount to 2.4 million euros, which also includes regional funding and contributions from the Nockberge Biosphere Park and the Slow Food Community. The planning took place in close collaboration with the Winkler landscape architecture office and as part of a master plan for community development. After the official start in spring 2018, construction of the square began in autumn 2024.

Diversity and lively use

An important point of the new village square is its year-round use. Weekly farmers' markets and regional products from the biosphere reserve are part of the concept. The aim is not only to strengthen local added value, but also to strengthen the connection between residents and visitors. The aim of the square is to create a high-quality public space that promotes the further development of the place and enables lively cooperation between all project partners, such as Small newspaper reported.

The official inauguration attracted numerous citizens and guests who enjoyed musical performances. A primary school choir as well as the Carinthian flag wavers and the traditional costume band ensured a great atmosphere during the celebrations. The mayor ceremoniously declared the square open. This was not only a moment of celebratory get-together, but also a sign of community cohesion.

A place for everyone

The newly designed area extends over 8,800 square meters and offers space for various events. In the future, the village square will serve as a starting point for numerous hiking and mountain bike tours, such as stage 17 of the Alpe-Adria Trail. This will not only delight guests, but will also help to further position the region as an attractive destination.

Numerous partners from the region have great hopes for revitalizing the village square. New formats such as “NockBeats” and “After Ski” are also being considered to expand the variety of offerings. Information about current program items is available via the region app “ZEITpass”, which has already found initial popularity. “The good project management and the goal setting have paid off,” emphasized Mayor Krenn after the successful opening.

Overall, the project, which is based on a strategic plan for local development, shows the commitment of the population and the numerous participants. In the interests of a high quality of life and strengthening regional identity, everyone is pulling together here, as is also the case on the website Carinthian state government is displayed.