Because of the corona pandemic, the still young partnership between the communities of Bernbeuren and Vizinada is only cooking on the back burner this year.
The contact between the Bavarians and the picturesque village in Croatia never breaks off, even during the crisis.
It is held by the initiator Susanne von der Schulenburg, who is very optimistic about the future.
Bernbeuren - The Croatians in the 1160-strong community in Istria did not fare much better in 2020 than their friends in Germany: "In Vizinada, too, one suffers from the economic and 'interpersonal' consequences of the pandemic," says Susanne von der Schulenburg, who maintains contact with the partner community.
Despite the pandemic, this year she was a guest in the village near the tourist region of Porec.
"My husband and I were with friends on a private camping holiday in Istria, the corona numbers were very low at the time," explains the Bernbeurer.
And of course she made a detour to the friends in Vizinada to be able to take part in the opening of the new kindergarten.
Inspired for kindergarten in Bernbeuren
Croats got their inspiration for this from a visit to Bavaria in 2019, when they visited the Bernbeur kindergarten, among other places.
On the occasion of the “Auerberg Classic”, a large delegation from the partner community had come.
Recently the inauguration of the new children's home was celebrated in Vizinada under strict hygiene precautions.
It offers space for 40 kindergarten and twelve crèche children.
So far, small town has come through the pandemic comparatively well
The small town has survived the pandemic comparatively well so far.
“In the summer Vizinada was free of corona”, knows from Schulenburg.
Only three cases were counted at the beginning of December.
The mayor in the partner municipality found this "acceptable".
The low number shows that the measures started very early and that as a holiday region for Germany and Austria, they were aware of their responsibility.
Exchange should start again
And that's exactly where the mediator from Bernbeurerin wants to pick up when traveling to Corona is possible again.
"Our people from Bernbeck should be able to experience the great accommodation options and leisure activities in our partner community and in the region in Istria," von der Schulenburg looks ahead.
And she wants to combine the numerous similarities of the partner communities "for mutual benefit".
She names the fire brigade, cycling club, hunting club and rural women as examples.
+
The two mayors Martin Hinterbrandner (Bernbeuren) and Marco Ferenac (Vizinada) cut a huge cake with the two red and white coats of arms of the municipalities to celebrate the day.
© private
As is well known, the mayor of the Auerberg community, who has now been voted out of office, was a great friend of the partnership.
Martin Hinterbrandner and his Croatian counterpart Marco Ferenac sealed their partnership in Vizinada two years ago at a big festival weekend.
The Bernbeuren band played, and more than 40 guests from Bavaria were there.
“It was really great,” recalls von der Schulenburg.
+
Return visit to Bernbeuren: The music band from Vizinada played at Auerberg Classic in 2019.
In 2020 there were no major meetings due to the corona.
But that should change again after the pandemic.
© private
Further visits and return visits followed.
She is "actually quite satisfied" with the development of the connection, says the woman from Bern, who moved to the Auerberg in 2016 from Croatia.
The new mayor is very interested in maintaining the community partnership
Von der Schulenburg now hopes that the corona situation will allow the new mayor and the newly elected councilors to get to know the Croatians personally and that schools and kindergartens in both communities will come into closer contact.
In any case, the woman from Bernbeur has already received the signal from Mayor Karl Schleich that he is "very interested" in continuing the community partnership, says von der Schulenburg happily.
"It would of course be great if we could establish permanent contacts at the municipal council level," she says.
Also interesting:
Who founded the legendary Damasia on the Auerberg?
Bernbeuren is preoccupied with a bizarre argument about the Romans and the Celts
Deficit too high:
Fees for wastewater in Bernbeuren are increasing.
Read more news
from the region here.
