Good interim results for the "Alpine Model Region" Weitnau / Missen-Wilhams

Weitnau / Missen-Wilhams - The actors in the state-funded "Alpine Model Region" present projects that have been initiated and some of them already implemented and their success. 

presented projects. The topics that have been providing movement in both communities since 2018 range from the completed, redesigned “Carl Hirnbein” hiking trail to the “Weitnauer Kalb” initiative and year-round tourism in Missen. At that time, Weitnau and Missen received recognition from the Bavarian Ministry of Agriculture as a model region and thus the opportunity to put new ideas into practice with state money (the budget was around 360,000 euros).

Project manager Manuela Müller-Gaßner from Sibratshofen found the right words: “I'm incredibly proud of what our inventors, machinists and pioneers have achieved!” Max Lang from the responsible Office for Rural Development Swabia in Krumbach praised the initiated projects as “figureheads for Weitnau and Missen, who can be role models for other communities. ”He emphasized that the funds were invested sensibly, there was not a single“ flop ”, everyone involved was“ highly motivated ”, and the office would continue to support them. With the “Alpine Model Region” campaign, the aim is to “create a creative atmosphere that inspires people in the countryside over and over again.”

The former mayors Streicher (Weitnau) and Von Laer (Missen) had applied for the contract as a model region in 2017, now both could not hide their satisfaction about the success and radiantly received the applause of the actors in the historic office building of Weitnau.

The spirit of the Allgäu pioneer

"You get the feeling that the spirit of the Allgäu pioneer Carl Hirnbein lives," said one of the participants.

In the 19th century, Carl Hirnbein converted agriculture in the Allgäu to include milk and cheese and is considered a pioneer of modern tourism.

No wonder then that Hirnbein has been installed as a new umbrella brand for his two hometowns of Weitnau and Missen, with which the two new community leaders Martina Wilhelm Missen) and Florian Schmid (Weitnau) are going into the future.

Sixteen projects have started in the three years since the "Alpine Model Region" was recognized.

One of them was, for example, the search for a modern senior citizens' home that makes aging worth living;

Corresponding discussions about a plot of land for the future location are already underway.

The future of young people in Missen and Weitnau is also actively being considered: A former inn is to be converted into a youth club in DSort, and a hip construction trailer has already been approved as a future quarter for children and young people.

Year-round tourism in Missen-Wilhams

Architect Hans-Peter Meyer reported on the planned design of the new Weitnau town center, Aron Holtermann gave a lecture on the revitalization of the ski lift on the Thaler Höhe, which could be saved from collapse thanks to donations of several hundred thousand euros.

At the foot of the ski area, five exclusive tree chalets have formed a further foundation for year-round tourism in Missen-Wilhams since 2020.

Noteworthy are the efforts to set up models in terms of climate compatibility and sustainable agriculture.

Farmer Christine Bajohr is running a grazing project on the climatically exposed southern slope of the Kugel at an altitude of 1,000 meters, which is now being carried out as a study by the Technical University of Munich.

Forest conversion and Allgäu olives

Helen and Matthias Dünser from Oberstixner Hof are about to introduce the permaculture economy with the help of old cultivated plants. "Herbal beer from the Gagelstrauch or Allgäu 'olives' from the fruits of the olive tree - we'll try that," laughs Helen. And forest owner Peter Freytag is currently placing stylized silver firs as information steles in the woods: “The silver fir should become the new guide tree for the reconstruction of our forests. It is more climate-resistant than the spruce and typical of the Allgäu. "

Much remains to be done. An investor is being sought for a new village meeting point in the old forge in Sibratshofen, and the subject of bicycle friendliness will soon be back on the agenda in Weitnau and Missen. The animal and environmentally friendly marketing of local calves has now started so successfully that this idea is now also being taken up in Niedersonthofen. The Allgäu pioneer Carl Hirnbein lets