Prosperous hamlets, camaraderie, and vehicle piracy: Local choice for "A Bright Future for Our Village"
The Saarlouis district recently held the "Our Village Has a Future" competition, honouring eleven villages for their exceptional commitment to community development, sustainability, and quality of life improvements. The winning villages, Reisbach, Altforweiler, Felsberg, Bilsdorf, Gresaubach, Dörsdorf, Dorf im Bohnental, Aschbach, Primsweiler, Eimersdorf, and Werbeln, were recognised for their exemplary efforts in rural development, preservation of local heritage, environmental initiatives, and active citizen engagement.
During the award ceremony, held in a large meeting room and attended by around 130 people, mayors, ministry representatives, and members of the state parliament were present. District Administrator Patrik Lauer led the ceremony, announcing that all participants would receive prize money over 500 euros. Special and participation prizes were also awarded.
Reisbach and Altforweiler, the winning villages, were honoured with a check of 1000 euros each and a winner's shield. These villages will participate in the state finals of "Our Village Has a Future" in late summer/autumn 2025. Dörsdorf, on the other hand, was nominated for the minister's special prize themed "Children and Youth in the Village" for its annual event "Dorfcamp."
The jury, consisting of Sandra Silvanus-Friedrich, Joshua Pawlak, Elisabeth Schütz, Hans Martin, Peter Metzdorf, Alexander Schwehm, and Monika Lambert-Debong, visited all eleven participating villages to examine the submitted applications. Each village was commended for its unique strengths.
For instance, Eimersdorf was praised for its strong community and great commitment to the joint development of the village. Werbeln was commended for its special cohesion, particularly in the joint rebuilding after last year's Pentecost flood. Primsweiler stood out for its family-friendly offers and diverse hiking and cycling trails. Dorf im Bohnental, along with neighbouring villages, impressed with a good mix of nature and village life in the Saarlouis district.
Aschbach was recognised for its extensive event calendar and well-maintained facilities of the associations. Gresaubach was praised for its unique sense of community and strong cohesion around the old school. In Felsberg, the development of Burg Neufelsberg as a tourist and sustainable center received praise from the jury. Bilsdorf impressed with its multi-generational square, which was upgraded with different modules over the years and received a subsidy from the Ministry of the Environment.
The "Our Village Has a Future" competition is part of a broader regional and national effort in Germany to promote flourishing rural living and prevent decline. Achievements by the listed villages often include innovative projects, ecological sensitivity, and local participation that set an example for others in the region.
For precise details about each individual village’s winning projects and qualities, information would typically be available on official Saarlouis district or state agricultural or rural development websites or related event publications. The competition itself is recognised and supported by regional management and foundations focused on community futures, as indicated in related regional foundation's materials.
The winning villages, Reisbach and Altforweiler, were not only recognized for their exceptional rural development and local heritage preservation but also for improving their home-and-garden lifestyles, as shown by their respective 1000 euros check and winner's shield. Dörsdorf, on the other hand, was singled out for its home-and-garden lifestyle initiatives, particularly the annual "Dorfcamp" event focused on children and youth.
