The area of Teichalm and Sommeralm is the biggest connected alpine pasture of Europe and is located in the heart of Styria. Here the region “Almenland” was formed in 1995 by 12 municipalities in order to strengthen rural development and initiate cooperation in various fields.
Due to structural weaknesses in all economic sectors, the municipalities realized that cooperation was necessary in order to stimulate rural regional development. Within the framework of LEADER -a support programme of the European Union- municipalities, farms, the tourism industry and businesses started to cooperate and to implement common projects. Today 13 municipalities and 15 organizations work together. Furthermore, all 13,500 inhabitants of the region are invited to provide ideas for the mutual development of the region. The participatory and collaborative character of the region is also embodied in Almenland’s slogan: “Stand together, not alone”.
