WHAT'S NEW?! #38 - VILLACH IN MAY 2024

The welcome2villach team collects the most important news from around Villach in a compact, monthly “News Story”, with links to more information. In May, Villach entices with a diverse summer program featuring new events, updates on the largest residential construction project and a new college for elementary education training, millions invested in flood protection, and hosts a painting competition where children can creatively express their visions for the future.

• Summer in the City: Villach's city marketing has put together a diverse summer program with a variety of exciting events. For the first time, there will be a beach volleyball court at Rathausplatz and a surfing platform on the Drau Bridge. Other highlights include the UEFA European Football Championship with live broadcasts in beer gardens, the concert by Emely Myles on June 26th, and the 79th Villacher Kirchtag. More details about the program can be found here.

• Villach's Largest Residential Construction Project: Starting in 2025, the "Ludwig Walter Park" will be built in Villach on the site of a former shopping center in Perau. The project includes 450 barrier-free apartments and reserves 40% of the area for green spaces. Led by the Rutter Immobilien Group, it focuses on sustainability to meet the increasing demand for housing and to make the city future-oriented. Modern bicycle infrastructure, sharing and mobility offers, as well as photovoltaic areas, a kindergarten, and a daycare center complete the project.
   
• Millions for Flood Protection: To protect the population from future flood damage, an extensive flood protection project for the Drau, Gail, and Seebach rivers has been initiated. The official groundbreaking took place in April. The federal government, the state, Verbund, and the city of Villach are investing millions to implement the construction of dams, walls, and ecological measures. More detailed information can be found here.
   
• Painting Competition for Villach's Future: To actively involve even the youngest Villach residents in the Local Development Concept, the city of Villach invites children up to 14 years old to participate in a large painting competition to creatively contribute their ideas for Villach's future design. Attractive prizes will be awarded, and the best artworks will be exhibited in the lebensRAUM.
   
• New Dog Off-Leash Area at St. Leonharder See: A new off-leash area for dogs has been opened on 600 square meters at the corner of Treffner Straße / Seestüberl car park. Special play equipment for younger and smaller dogs, as well as opportunities for coordination and mobility training, are offered there.

• New College for Elementary Education: A new college offering a two-year elementary education training program will start in autumn in Villach. The registration deadline is already underway and ends on June 13th. An aptitude test will take place on June 20th. This offering allows aspiring elementary educators to no longer have to commute to Klagenfurt.
   
• City and "Saubermacher" Fleet Transitioning to Diesel Substitute: The city of Villach and "Saubermacher" are transitioning a portion of their vehicles to the diesel substitute HVO 100, which is made from vegetable oil waste and significantly improves the greenhouse gas balance. This fuel reduces CO2 emissions by up to 90 percent and is an important interim solution on the way to electric vehicles.
   
• Search for Street Art Artist: The city of Villach is seeking artists for a new street art project to enhance the north side of the pedestrian bridge over the Drau. The winning project will be selected by a jury and awarded a fee of €10,000. The deadline for submitting ideas and designs to streetart@villach.at  is May 20th. Details can be found at www.villach.at/streetart.
   
• Events: In May 2024, THE LAKE ROCKS SUP Festival attracts professionals and hobby paddlers to Lake Faak for the third time with exciting competitions and a colorful program including after-race parties and SUP yoga. Villach also offers a wealth of cultural events such as concerts by Féten Féten at the Congress Center on May 6th, or Lambada and BAITS at the Kulturhof Villach on May 11th, and the award ceremony of the Bruno Gironcoli Prize on May 16th.