WHAT'S NEW!? #32 - VILLACH IN NOVEMBER 2023

The welcome2villach team collects the most important news from around Villach in a compact, monthly “News Story”, with links to more information. In November, alongside the traditional opening of the Villacher Advent, there are exciting developments in the modernization of the barracks Henselkaserne, growth in the tpv Technology Park, sustainable heat investments, special honors, and a wealth of cultural events in Villach.

• Groundbreaking for Austria's most modern military facility: The Henselkaserne in Villach is being modernized for an impressive 370 million euros. With the largest investment by the Austrian Armed Forces since World War II, the existing barracks will be expanded on a 98,000 square meter gross floor area, providing space for 1,000 stationed soldiers. Construction started in October, and after completion, the locations of the barracks Rohrkaserne and Lutschounigkaserne will be dissolved. The city plans to acquire the freed-up areas from the Federal Ministry of Defense to create space for inner-city housing (Lutschounigkaserne) and development zones for employment (Rohrkaserne).

• T.I.P.S. and WILD are building in the tpv: The tpv Technology Park Villach is experiencing significant growth as both T.I.P.S., a renowned measurement technology company, and the high-tech developer WILD expand their presence. T.I.P.S. plans a substantial expansion of its site with the construction of 1,000 additional square meters of production and office space. In parallel, WILD has acquired a 20,000-square-meter area to expand its locations and establish a new presence in the technology hub.
   
• 32 million euros for sustainable heat: Kelag Energie & Wärme GmbH is investing 32 million euros by 2025 into expanding heat production and network development in Villach. This includes installing a third biomass boiler in the St. Agathen biomass heating plant to provide sustainable heat to an additional 10,000 apartments. The groundbreaking for the expansion took place in September.
   
• Learning bees for Villach's kindergartens: Thanks to the generous donation of 13 BeeBots by the cloud provider Anexia, children in Villach's kindergartens are introduced to the digital world through play, developing cognitive skills, teamwork, and creativity.

• Honoring excellence: Since 1953, the city of Villach has awarded the Paracelsus Ring every three years to outstanding personalities in the fields of art, science, or other areas. In 2024, the honorary ring will be awarded to the internationally renowned philosopher Konrad Paul Liessmann, who has led the "Philiosophicum Lech" since 1996 and received the "Scientist of the Year" award in 2006, and the esteemed physician Primarius Georg Lukeschitsch, who founded the Orthopedic Hospital in Warmbad and significantly contributed to the development of healthcare services in Villach.
   
• Expansion of shelters for women: In cooperation with the Frauenhaus (women's shelter), the city of Villach has created apartments that can be used by women and their children who have experienced violence for a period of three months, or up to six months if needed, after leaving the women's shelter. These two multifunctional and fully furnished "transitional apartments" are an important step in fulfilling the so-called "Istanbul Convention" and aim to support women on their path to a self-determined and violence-free life.
   
• Enchanting Advent in Villach: Starting from November 17th, the city center of Villach will once again shine in a captivating sea of lights. The festively decorated squares offer culinary delights, traditional customs, such as the Krampuslauf on December 1st, and a new event location at Standesamtsplatz, which is designed to be particularly family-friendly with a lantern stage for fairy tales and puppet theater. There will also be a Christkindl-Postamt on-site. Creative woodcarvings, fragrant chestnuts, a colorful musical program, and carriage rides along a new route (Postgasse-Draulände-Lederergasse-Gerbergasse) are just some of the attractions that will delight visitors to the Villacher Advent.

• Presentation of the new Villach Carnival Royal Couples: On November 11 at 11:11 a.m. the Carnival season is officially starting, and that is when the well-kept secret of Villach's new carnival princes and princesses will be revealed as they step onto the stage in front of the Congress Center and are officially presented to the public. Onlookers can also expect an entertaining Mini-Lei-Lei program to celebrate the beginning of Carnival together and get into the spirit of the upcoming carnival season.
   
• Events: In November, Villach has some exciting events lined up. The exhibition "plusDREISSIG," the second part of the exhibition series marking the 30th anniversary of Galerie Freihausgasse, will present additional works from various generations of artists starting from the opening on November 16 (7 p.m.). From November 17th to 19th, the "TONsPUR" Festival in the Parksalon of Hotel Warmbaderhof will feature musical compositions on the themes "Songs of hope," "Bach like waters," and "Les Grandes Femmes," and the Kulturforum Villach is organizing an international Jazz Autumn as part of its busy event year with performances by jazz stars like Joe McPhee and Basement Research.