NEW IN VILLACH Important information about Villach, from „Working“ to „Living“. In addition contact details of authorities, offices, societies – your cityguide. FOTO: STADT VILLACH STADT FOTO: IMPRINT PAGE MEDIA OWNER AND EDITOR: City of Villach, Public Relations Department, Standesamtsplatz 2, 9500 Villach Tel: +43 (0) 4242 / 205-1700 E-mail: [email protected] villach.at Layout & Production: Public Relations Department Photos: City of Villach Printing: Tiebeldruck, 9560 Feldkirchen 4th edition, December 2020, villach.at AUGEN AUF! WATERLOO 365 MÜLL-APP A mobile app for citizen The innovative solution around Collection dates, etc. participation. the water meter. Android iPhone Android iPhone Android iPhone facebook.com/stadtvillach instagram.com/villach.at youtube.com/StadtVillach TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome to Villach 59 Sustainability is Villach’s green affirmations 63 New in Villach 65 Living 69 Working 73 Life situations 78 Children, young people, families 82 Education 84 Health 90 Settlement and residence 92 Migration and integration 95 Equality and participation 96 Societies 98 Useful information 100 Distressing Situations and crises 102 Emergency 103 Index of addresses 106 57 WELCOME TO VILLACH It is very important to us that all those who live here can contribute their experiences, ideas and points of view and have the chance to get involved in local affairs. 58 STADT VILLACH/ MICHAEL STABENTHEINER VILLACH/ MICHAEL STADT WELCOME TO VILLACH I’m delighted that you choose Villach to Carinthia we used to say that “Talking brings be the center of your life! Villach is an people together”. open-minded educational and cultural city where people from around 110 nations live This “Welcome to Villach” brochure con- and work. More than 11,800 children and tains important information about our city young people are attending school in Villach and our services – it’s an useful overview and more than 1000 students complete for getting easily started. I hope you’ll find their academic education at the University new friends in our city, put down roots and of Applied Science. Culture in all its facets ultimately feel at home in Villach. is widely entertained in Villach. It is very important to us that all those who live here can contribute their experiences, ideas and points of viewand everybody can get involved for the benefit of everyone. My wish as mayor is that Villach remains a city with a high quality of life for all. This primarily includes a peaceful and respectful commu- nity of citizens. Please also seek dialogue with the people around you, in the residen- Günther Albel tial neighbourhood and at the workplace. In Mayor 59 Dear new Villacher! On behalf of the municipal administration, we would like to make our contribution and Good hosts introduce guests to their new continually improve our service. I hope that and unfamiliar surroundings, provide orien- you have a positive perception of your con- tation and familiarise them with the house tact with the Villach municipal authorities. rules and particularities. First and foremost, I hope that you feel at ease in Villach and have the opportunity to As the municipal authorities of the town of discover the many beautiful aspects of our Villach, it is not possible for us to person- town – and perhaps the Drau metropolis ally introduce all new arrivals to their new will not only be your place of residence, living environment. However, we would at but also become your new hometown. least like to help by providing a voucher for a guided tour of the town as an initial in- Municipal authority director troduction to Villach. The contents of our Christoph Herzeg “Welcome to Villach” are also designed to help familiarise you with our town. You will see that Villach is a multifaceted town that boasts a very good infrastructure and is rightly appreciated for its high quality of life. STADT VILLACH/ MARTA GILLNER VILLACH/ MARTA STADT STADT VILLACH/MARTA GILLNER VILLACH/MARTA STADT Dear new Villacher! We hope that this compilation is helpful for your start in Villach. We wish you a happy You have just registered your new main life in our beautiful city. place of residence in Villach and received this “Welcome to Villach” brochure. With The Public Relations team the contents and information, we would like to make your settling in to the Drau town a little easier. In the “New in Villach” brochure we have gathered information ranging from “Work- ing” to “Living”, in addition it contains con- tact details of authorities, offices, societies Further Information etc. villach.at 61 Villach: figures, data, facts Villach is the second-largest town in Villach is governed by a mayor, the muni- Carinthia and the seventh-largest town in cipal council and the municipal senate. Austria. The 63,087 inhabitants (status The municipal council and mayoral elec- 31.12.2020, main places of residence) tions are held every six years. come from around 110 nations. The town is administrated by the Villach The oldest human traces in the Vilach area municipal authorities, responsible for sup- date back to the late New Stone Age (3500 plying water, public transport, rubbish dis- – 1800 B.C.). One can find relics through- posal, the sewage system, playschools and out the town area from the Roman era to schools etc. Villach is not only a centre for the 15th century B.C. Villach was first re- culture, science and technology, but is also ferred to explicitly as a town in 1240. becoming a “green city”. It lies amidst the Alpine Adriatic region and exudes a Med- The colours of the town are yellow and iterranean flair with influences from Italy black. The municipal coat of arms shows and Slovenia. a triangular shield with a black eagle’s powerful talons resting on a black rock rising out of the tip of the shield. Since the year 2006, the representation of the town of Villach has been characterised by a uniform appearance. The striking black inscription on a yellow background is linear and ensures a high recognition value for a distinctive outward appearance. The mo- dern corporate design rounds off the coat of arms. Further data Geographical location Total population: 63.087 13 degrees 51 minutes eastern longitude 50,370 with Austrian citizenship, 46 degrees 37 minutes northern latitude 6,578 from EU countries, 6,139 from non-EU countries Length of the Drau in the (Status 31. 12. 2020) municipal area: over 14 km Area of Villach: 134.85 square kilometres Length of road network: around 470 km Altitude: 501 metres above sea level, measured at Length of cycle path network: Oberer Kirchenplatz approx. 110 km 62 ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/RUSN SUSTAINABILITY IS VILLACH’S GREEN AFFIRMATIONS It starts with the district heating that runs The Dobratsch nature reserve, the first na- on renewable fuels and supplies a large ture reserve in Carinthia, is a green lung, proportion of the municipal area. It contin- a drinking water reservoir and a popular ues with the systematic investments into local recreational area. And the fact that contemporary mobility: e-bikes, e-city bus, the importance of climate protection and car and bike sharing, e-scooters and ex- environmental awareness are emphasised cellent conditions for cycling. Many of the from a young age in Villach is proven by intelligent components were researched, classes dedicated to fair trade and a na- developed and manufactured here in the ture reserve kindergarten. Family friendli- high-tech metropolis. International com- ness, sustainability and climate protection panies such as Infineon are important are of prime importance to the city. Villach employers, while the Technology Park and was already green when other cities were the Technical College provide important still tinkering with achieving compromises impulses. and has always fulfilled climate protection tasks consistently. The city of course ac- Villach’s public lighting has been convert- tively supports the international efforts to ed to LED and therefore requires minimal achieve the Paris climate protection goals. energy. The green commitment is also evident in the support of regional markets The municipal authorities keep coming and it culminates in large-scale photovolta- up with new initiatives: 150,000 reusable ic systems and the promotion of ecofriend- cups for city events, in cooperation with ly measures – especially also in the private the ecofriendly rentable tableware mobile, sphere (energy consulting…). ensure that plastic is disappearing from festival sites and fairgrounds. The sustain- 63 able drinking cups are already being used quality of life and wellbeing of the people, successfully at the ‘Villacher Kirchtag’ fes- as well as to sustainability. The city centre tival, the largest traditional festival in Aus- is gradually being adapted to be even more tria. In addition: a plastic bag prohibition climate-friendly with ample greenery: flow- is in force at the weekly market, because erbeds and troughs, a strolling boulevard regional products and plastic simply don’t at the main square, planted bus stop roofs go together. and underground garage entries, as well as many fountains ensure a climate of wellbe- The affirmation “Villach is green” extends ing in the inner-city area. Apart from many across all municipal activities: it shows attractive parks, Villach also offers urban that the city accords a top priority to the gardening. © ISTOCK.COM/PATTANAPHONG KHUANKAEW © ISTOCK.COM/PATTANAPHONG STADT VILLACH / ADRIAN HIPP VILLACH STADT NEW IN VILLACH Here you can find an overview of the initial The citizens’ service takes care of e.g. tasks that await you upon arrival in Villach. ▸ Registrations and deregistrations You will find out which office can issue a ▸ Lost-and-found service passport, personal ID, proof of citizenship. ▸ Issuing and receipt of applications The employees of the Villach municipal au- ▸ Settlement and residence thorities will gladly assist you, answer your ▸ Issuing of various confirmations questions and give further information about any topic.