Unterallgäu discovers Poland: final trip promotes partnership

Unterallgäu discovers Poland: final trip promotes partnership

Bavarian local politics experiences a rich exchange with Polish culture and history as part of an exciting information trip. On October 25, 2025, the Unterallgäu district council made its final trip to the partner district of Gostyn, shortly before a new district council is elected in March 2026. District Administrator Alex Eder took this opportunity to emphasize how important exchanges about political systems are in order to promote understanding between countries. “Such trips are invaluable for dialogue,” says Eder.

In addition to intensive discussions with the district councilors from Gostyn, the program also included a visit to the Fort VII memorial in Poznan, which commemorates the Second World War. This station offered deeper insights into the common but also the challenging parts of the story.

Cultural highlights of the trip

Another highlight of the trip was the traditional baking of St. Martin's croissants. The participants were not only able to learn to appreciate Polish cuisine, but also visited a potato pub and experienced rousing folk dances. These cultural experiences underlined the similarities between the peculiarities of the people of Poznań and the Swabian traditions, which ensured lively exchange among the participants.

The local politicians were warmly welcomed at the Liceum in Gostyn, the partner school of the Joseph-Bernhart-Gymnasium in Türkheim. This visit highlighted the long-standing school partnership, which has created numerous opportunities for exchange between students and teachers since the collaboration was officially sealed in November 2021. In addition, there is a collaboration between the comprehensive school in Krobia and the business school in Bad Wörishofen, which further strengthens the school connection.

Importance of partnerships

As the information shows, the first contacts with the partner district of Gostyn began in the 1980s. Such town and community partnerships are not only culturally enriching, they also promote European integration. Over 20,000 partnerships between cities and municipalities in Europe are an important basis for peaceful cooperation and exchange at the local level. German municipalities are particularly active when it comes to cross-border projects that counteract Euroscepticism and strengthen democracy, as the analysis by Education knowledge atlas shows.

The trip to Gostyn proved once again that understanding and friendship between countries grows through personal exchange. For the members of the district council it was not just a conclusion, but a new beginning on a solid basis of partnership, which promises many more encounters and projects in the future.