Oberkrumbach and Hallerstein: The gold heroes of Bavaria 2023!

Oberkrumbach and Hallerstein: The gold heroes of Bavaria 2023!

A proud day for the Bavarian villages: On July 21, 2025, the state winners of the “Our Village has a Future” competition were announced. Among the ten participants, Hallerstein in the Hof district and Oberkrumbach in the Nürnberger Land district were able to celebrate the gold medal. This award was announced by Bavaria's Agriculture Minister Michaela Kaniber and helps ensure that the two villages of Bavaria will be represented in the federal decision next year. Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry reports that the competition aims to strengthen communities and the positive development of the villages.

The competition, which was first launched in 1961, not only promotes civic engagement, but has inspired more than 27,300 Bavarian villages over more than six decades. With a high number of participants of 82 villages this year, there is great enthusiasm for the sustainable development of rural areas. The best eight villages made it into the state competition thanks to their innovative concepts and gave the jury of the expert commission a lot of joy.

The winners in detail

Oberkrumbach impressed the jury with the population's high level of willingness to participate in community projects. The place was particularly praised as a source of inspiration for model railway builders. The commitment of the residents is an example of how vibrant village communities can promote positive development.

Hallerstein, known for the preservation and continued use of old buildings, also received an award. There is hardly any vacancy here, and historical trees, such as the old linden tree in the village center, are particularly worthy of protection and shape the image of the place. Bayerischer Rundfunk emphasizes that such traditions are an important element of village life and contribute to the quality of life.

Special prizes and other achievements

In addition to the gold medals, the competition also awarded silver and bronze medals as well as several special prizes. In total, six villages received silver, while two others were awarded bronze. Here is an overview of the special prices:

• Bubenheim für den Erhalt der Kulturlandschaft
• Ollarzried für ehrenamtliches Engagement in der Landschaftspflege
• Bad Neualbenreuth für die Gestaltung des Dorfweihers
• Kottgeisering für die nachhaltige Transformation der Mittertennhäuser
• Nassach für integrierte Innenentwicklung
• Haselbach für Kinder- und Jugendbeteiligung

The ceremonial presentation of the awards will take place on November 22nd in Veitshöchheim. The competition has evolved in recent years. While the initial focus was on the external appearance of the villages, the focus is now on sustainable development concepts and social cohesion. This change shows how lively and future-oriented the Bavarian villages are!