Thematic villages () are small tourist villages formed from a need to generate an alternative source of income and foster a feeling of community and pride in declining rural areas.
Austria The idea of thematic villages began in 1984 using four municipalities as test communities. With the success of those communities the non-profit Lower Austrian Village and Urban Renewal Project was founded in 1990 to motivate the population to participate actively in their villages, towns, and cities. By 2010 village redevelopment activities were implemented from 1341 locations. See Vorstand & Organisation > Dorferneuerungsvereine for a list of villages.
Examples of thematic villages: Krummnußbaum - Nut Village Purgstall an der Erlauf - Book Village Armschlag - Poppy Village Herrnbaumgarten - Nonsense Village
Poland Seeing the success of the Austrian villages, Poland followed with their first thematic villages 15 years later.
West Pomeranian Voivodeship The first Polish thematic villages, mostly geared towards children of school age, were established in this voivodeship. They include: Dąbrowa, the Village of Healthy Living; Iwiecino, the Village of the End of the World; Paproty, the Village of Labyrinths and Sources; the Fairytale and Fun Fair in Podgórke; and the Tolkien-inspired Hobbit Village, Sierakowo Sławieńskie.
Podlaskie Voivodeship The District Office in Białystok and the County Office in Suwałki promoted the idea of thematic villages in this voivodship starting November 2008. This endeavor is co-financed by the EU. Ruda - Adventure Bread Village Krypno - Pacowa Cottage Hamlet Góra - Rybia Mountain Czarna Wieś Kościelna - Forest Spirit Village Obrubniki - Slav's Land Janowszczyzna - A Village with Traditions Dzięciołówka - Strawberry Village
Lesser Poland Voivodeship Dulowa - Lost Village Głogoczów - Sport and Family Village Ruda Kameralna - Positively Twisted Village
Opolskie Voivodeship Kuniów - Agritourism Village Kujakowice Górne - Crumb Cake Village Maciejów - Village of Flowing Honey Pawłowice - Village of Paradise
Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Adamkowo - Avian Village Gzin - Rituals Village Jabłonka - Apple Village Jania Góra - Bread Village Krzywogoniec - Mushroom Village Macikowo - Herbal Village Nowy Sumin - Borovian Village Piła-Młyn - Coal Mining Village Podzamek Golubski - Village of Nuts Węgiersk - Fruit Village Wielki Mędromierz - Honey Village Wylatowo - Village of UFOs Wysoka - Cypress Village Żalno - Flower Village
Łódź Voivodeship Stara Wieś - Karate Village Domaniew - Artistic Village
Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship Bałtów - Dinosaur Park
Pomeranian Voivodeship Karwno - Fantasy Village
Podkarpackie Voivodeship Kuńkowce - Living Fantasy Village
Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship Suchacz - Kaperska Village Pogrodzie - Children's Village Kadyny - Imperial Village Aniołowo - Angels Village
Germany Bröbberow - Mecklenburg Culture Nattenheim - Village of Witches Ingenried - Village of Renewable Energy Malzhausen - Country Village
See also Tourist village (Indonesia) Ethnographic village
References