In 2005, Sonthofen was named Alpine Town of the Year for its outstanding commitment to sustainable urban development – a title that still has an impact today. To mark the anniversary year, a festive ceremony was held at the AlpenStadtMuseum in mid-April.
The newly published report from AlpWeek 2024 highlights key discussions and strategies for ensuring a sustainable future for the Alpine region. Held in Nova Gorica/SL the event gathered over 200 participants from politics, research, non-profits, and civil society under the theme “Alps in Our Hands”.
The ‘Climate & Municipalities’ webinar on 13 January 2025 provided an overview of innovative approaches and proven measures in the field of climate action, specifically tailored to the challenges and potential of Alpine towns and municipalities.
Dealing with the climate crisis, preserving biodiversity and ensuring quality of life are key issues for many towns and municipalities in the Alpine region. That is why we invite you to exchange ideas on these topics across borders!
How can cities and municipalities actively contribute to the restoration of nature? This question was the focus of the webinar ‘Nature Restoration and Municipalities’, which was organised by the two networks Alliance in the Alps and Alpine Town of the Year on 12 December 2024.
Numerous members of the association gathered in Nova Gorica/SL at the end of September for the general assembly to discuss current issues and actively shape the future of the association.
A look back, a look forwards: twenty years after the first AlpWeek, the eighth edition of the international conference brought over 200 people to Nova Gorica/SL to discuss what is important in the development of the Alpine region. The ‘Alpine Town of the Year’ association was involved in the preparations, realisation and follow-up of the Alpine Week, which also included our general meeting.
Once a year, the Alpine Convention pays tribute to the cultural heritage in the Alps with the Alpine-wide ‘Reading Mountains Festival’, which consists of a mosaic of events organised by our partners throughout the Alpine region and beyond.
Which successes, initiatives and policies have influenced the sustainable development of the Alps in the last 20 years? How do we shape the next 20 years? Two decades after the first AlpWeek in Kranjska Gora/SI, the 8th edition will take place in September 2024 in Nova Gorica/SL.
Das alpine Siedlungssystem kann in vielerlei Hinsicht auf seinen sozioökonomischen Stärken aufbauen: Die demografische Entwicklung ist positiver als in vielen anderen europäischen Regionen.
Culture, exchange and Alpine identity: the city of Cuneo in Piedmont is celebrating its title of Alpine Town of the Year 2024 as part of the Cuneo Montagna Festival (Mountain Festival) with the motto “AnimAlpina”.
Every year, the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention pays tribute to the literary and cultural heritage in the Alps with the “Reading Mountains Festival”, which consists of a mosaic of events organised by our partners throughout the Alpine region and beyond.
The provincial capital of Cuneo in the Piedmont region holds the title of “Alpine Town of the Year” in 2024. For the international jury, Cuneo is an Alpine town par excellence.
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Water is one of the most important ecosystem services that the mountains provide to the town. How can water be kept in the cycle of our towns?
As Observer of the Alpine Convention, the Alpine Town of the Year Association participates in the preparation of the 10th Report on the State of the Alps on the topic of “Quality of life for all” and invites you to take part in a survey.
Under the title “Climate Action in Alpine Towns”, eight Alpine towns implemented climate actions related to spatial planning and citizen participation. The final report is now available.
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The Alpine Town of the Year Association is pleased to once again count the city of Sondrio/IT among its members.
How did Sonthofen become the town it is today? This and other questions are addressed by the new Alpine Town Museum (AlpenStadtMuseum) in Sonthofen/D, which opened its doors at the end of January after two and a half years of construction.
Listening, putting yourself in the shoes of others and taking their needs into account: this is how citizen participation can work. This was a finding of the online event at the end of the project “Climate Action in Alpine Towns”.
The French town of Annecy used its participation in the project as an opportunity to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to actively involve citizens.
For the Italian city of Trento, brownfield sites hold untapped potential for heat reduction.
The Slovenian town of Tolmin decided to make its centre greener as their contribution to the ‘Climate Action in Alpine Towns’ pilot.
The “cycling town” of Sonthofen in Germany wants to encourage more people to switch from car to bike and thereby save CO2.
As part of the project ‘Climate Action in Alpine Towns’, the population of Brig-Glis in Switzerland was sensitised to climate change with four targeted measures.
The French town of Passy celebrated the title of “Alpine Town of the Year 2022” on 14 October 2022.
The AlpWeek on beginning of September 2022 in our member town Brig-Glis had much to offer: interactive workshops, interesting keynotes, heated debates and many opportunities to exchange and network with like-minded people from the Alpine region.
The ecological transition is already happening in the Alps – and we are in the middle of it.…
We congratulate our Co-President Uroš Brežan on his election as Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning in Slovenia!
Since 1 January 2022, the management of the Alpine Town of the Year Association has once again been entirely in the hands of the International Commission for the Protection of the Alps CIPRA.
The French town of Passy was awarded the title of “Alpine Town of the Year 2022” for its sustainable development policy.
The general assembly of the association took place during the annual conference of CIPRA, which was held from 1 to 3 July in Biella (Italy), Alpine Town of the Year 2021.
Anniversaries give us reasons to look back. The “Alpine Town of the Year” association celebrates its twentieth birthday this year.
On the occasion of International Mountain Day, our brand new website is now online! We have decluttered and updated our content and wrapped it in a fresh design.
The city of Biella/Piemont (Italy) has been officially named “Alpine City of the Year 2021” by an international jury.
Anniversaries give us reasons to look back. The “Alpine Town of the Year” association celebrates its twentieth birthday this year.
Let’s celebrate! – 20 years “Alpine Town of the Year” means 19 award-winning Alpine towns with a very special quality of life and commitment.
