WHAT'S NEW?! #41 - VILLACH IN AUGUST 2024

The welcome2villach team collects the most important news from around Villach in a compact, monthly “News Story”, with links to more information. In August, Villach offers great summer highlights, including the beach volleyball court in the city center and the 79th edition of Villacher Kirchtag. Additionally, there is news about business and local new openings in the city center, the modernization of the camping beach at Lake Ossiach, as well as information about the sustainable district project at the Westbahnhof.

• New stores in the heart of Villach: Numerous new stores have opened in the Villach city center in recent weeks, enriching the variety of industries and the shopping experience. These include the Italian restaurant called Enotega al Poeta, a snack bar with homemade food and other delicacies to take away, a grocery store with a bistro directly on the main square, an ice cream parlor with classic and vegan varieties, a boutique for ball and occasion fashion, and the Siso Shop, which offers health and beauty products. These new stores significantly contribute to the diversity and attractiveness of the shopping offerings in the city center.
   
• Rathausplatz turns into a beach volleyball court in August: A beach volleyball court with 120 tons of sand will be set up in Villach's city center from August 14th to 28th, accessible to both amateurs and professionals. In addition to organized tournaments, including a city championship, the court is also available as an "Open Court" for everyone. Interested parties can reserve a playing time online at beachzone-villach.at, with the cost being ten euros per hour. Additionally, training sessions with beach volleyball legend Xandi Huber will be offered, providing valuable tips for better play.
   
• Swimming fun at the camping beach: The camping beach in Annenheim on Lake Ossiach shines in new splendor. With an investment of 5.5 million euros, modernization is currently underway. The new facilities include a restaurant, a shop for daily needs, barrier-free sanitary facilities, and a multifunctional room for various activities like yoga. Additionally, five new tiny houses are being built for camping guests to make their stay even more comfortable.
   
• Sustainable district project at the Westbahnhof: The new district project in Villach aims to create a sustainable model neighborhood, allocating 40 percent of the area for affordable housing, 40 percent for privately financed residential construction, and 20 percent for commercial use. The winning project of the EUROPAN competition is being implemented by an international team of architects. In the plans are generous green spaces, a kindergarten, and the expansion of the bicycle network.

• Villach celebrates the 79th Villacher Kirchtag: Austria's largest traditional festival takes place from July 28th to August 4th under this year's motto "more tradition, more quality, and folk culture" and transforms the city center into a huge festival stage. Visitors can learn traditional dances, enjoy culinary delights, and participate in various events, including live music and a large amusement park. A special highlight is the dance floor at the corner of Widmanngasse/Kirchenplatz, where interested parties can learn to dance the polka. All information about the festival can be found at villacherkirchtag.at.
   
• Events: In addition to the festival and beach volleyball events, visitors to Villach in August can look forward to a varied event program. Galerie Freihausgasse invites visitors to an exhibition of classical oil paintings by Alex Amann until the end of August. Folk fans can look forward to an atmospheric evening with Australian singer Isabel Rumble, who will perform on August 29th at Kulturhof:villach. Another highlight is the arts and crafts market, which will take place from August 29th to 31st and present handmade products and creative artworks.