Ukrainian refugees start a new phase of life in the Allgäu!

Ukrainian refugees start a new phase of life in the Allgäu!

There is movement in a small Allgäu village: Today, November 4th, 2025, 14 people from three Ukrainian families are moving into the Heubethof. This decision was recently confirmed by the Oberallgäu district office and includes the accommodation of up to 40 refugees in the former holiday and district youth home in Gunzesried. The first families arrive with their own vehicle, as the accommodation is subject to the requirement that the refugees be mobile.

The circumstances surrounding moving in are not entirely straightforward. The district has been renting the holiday home since March 2023. The petitions committee in the Bavarian state parliament has now given the green light, although some citizens from Blaichach had previously tried to prevent the move with a petition. Gunzesried, a hamlet with just 79 residents, was considered by many to be too small and remote to accommodate refugees.

Challenges of integration

The accommodation is almost four kilometers from Gunzesried, which doesn't make integrating the refugees any easier. There is a village shop, but doctors, schools and kindergartens are located over eight kilometers in the next larger town of Blaichach. District Administrator Indra Baier-Müller also expects that around 600 refugee places in Oberallgäu will be lost in the next two years, as the rental agreements for numerous accommodations are expiring and alternatives are in demand. The support of municipalities and private landlords is therefore urgently needed.

In view of the needs of the new villagers, it is important to find solutions to make life easier for refugees in this rural area. Social integration will also be a challenge as the village community has to get used to the new neighbors.

The view of the residents

The reactions of residents in Gunzesried are mixed. Some citizens are skeptical about the plan, while others are willing to give the refugees a chance. It seems as if a rethink has to take place in order to enable harmonious coexistence. The coming months will show whether the integration measures are fruitful and the concerns of residents can be reduced.

Although the decision of the Petitions Committee made the first step possible, it remains to be seen how the situation will actually be implemented on site and whether the people living in Gunzesried will accept the challenges. It remains to be hoped that the Heubethof will not only function as accommodation, but also as a place of community.

The development in Gunzesried is symbolic of a larger discussion about the issue of accommodation for refugees in rural regions of Germany, where both infrastructure and local preparedness often play a significant role.

Source: BR, eBay, Niteccrawler