Romrod, Hesse, Germany

Romrod the main town in the municipality of Romrod, has about 1,500 inhabitants and lies close to the motorway Erfurt-Frankfurt/Main. Rural exodus as a result of structure changes in farming, advancing age of the population and not enough jobs are the problems with which Romrod is confronted and whose solution has been consciously tackled. Coming up with visions of the future and designing projects, the deliberation process continues, although since the nineties a pertinent part of the future has already been achieved with several programmes and initiatives.

At first the efforts initiated by the municipality to give the derelict renaissance castle Romrod in the centre of the village a new function turned out to be a piece of luck The German Trust Monument Protection was won over not only to renovate this impressive village monument at considerable cost but also to give it a new function as an academy.

At the same time an innovative investor was found for a “Castle Hotel” so that culture and tourism has a strong foothold today. With various subsidy programmes and with the distinctive efforts of the citizens this large project found a valuable addition in a corresponding renovation and conversion of the former synagogue into an event location that is in great demand for registrar office weddings and the erection of a culture house with culture office and a “Castle Museum”. The new design of the castle park on the one hand joined the buildings together so that they appeared as an ensemble on the other the village centre was strengthened. In whole the measures not only have a positive influence on the guest house trade but also on the social cooperation as here citizen commitment is polled. And so the feeling of identity grew within the village and a new awareness for the confrontation with questions of future social life.

Sine the beginning of the 21st. century the municipality instead of approving new building sites is placing more interest in a more sustainable conversion of existing buildings. A facade renovation programme resulted in an improvement to the appearance especially in the centre. Projects for care flats, the improvement of services for the older generation and alternative housing and living forms should reduce the poor relationships in the modern rural society and promote social learning over generation borders. Along with the creation of new structures for an improved social network, as for example a multi-generation house, especially impressive is the innovative toddler care and school landscape as well as the active club life and the very noticeable e-citizen commitment.

In the area of farming, ecological orientation and cooperation at both local and regional levels are being forced and trend setting projects initiated that have already found positive acceptance. Local farming is an important building brick for the development of the use of renewable energy which high value is placed on, and for example is expressed in the solar thermal subsidy programme of the municipality and energy advice measures.

Romrod is distinguished by several efforts of high quality: Everything is outshone by the distinctive correspondence to the motto development orientation. Based on a high sensitivity to the manifold effects of the demographic change and the changes to the village society, the problems of rural exodus and advancing age of the population are actively met by committed reflection and innovative projects. Numerous activities and measures were successfully implemented under the guidance of competent experts and produce, thanks to a good network, synergy effects and a broad effect.

Evaluated: 2008