Vianden's new mayor, François Weyrich, has marked his first hundred days in office by reflecting on the progress achieved by his predominantly new team, and the challenges that lie ahead.

Municipal elections took place in Luxembourg on 11 June, and shortly after, most municipal council members were sworn in. As the various municipal executive boards (Schäfferéit) approach their 100-day milestone, our colleagues from RTL Radio sat down with the mayors of those municipalities where the elections have led to major changes to assess the situation.

In the case of Vianden, François Weyrich expressed his satisfaction with the efficient collaboration within his newly constituted team, which includes many first-time council members. Alongside Weyrich, the first alderman, Pol Petry, is also new to the role, which is why both of them are grateful to have former mayor Henri Majerus as the second alderman on board.

In terms of urban development, Vianden has ambitious plans. The municipality is actively exploring the feasibility of a multi-story car park in Neipiertchen. In addition, the historic town centre's main street is set to undergo a transformation into a 30 km/h zone in the coming years, with the possibility of reducing it to a 20 km/h zone in the future. The square in front of the former retirement home, currently being converted into a youth hostel, is scheduled for redevelopment, transforming it into a vibrant community space reminiscent of Place Vic Abens, located a few hundred meters away.

Vianden is also committed to supporting aspiring entrepreneurs interested in establishing businesses within the municipality.

Addressing a long-standing concern, the closure of the open-air municipal pool since 2019, Weyrich affirmed the new majority's commitment to reopening the swimming facility for the next season. He explained, "We plan to open the 25-metre pool as soon as all the necessary permits are secured, which we are actively working on. Simultaneously, preparations for the large pool, to be reinstated with Olympic specifications, are underway, and we anticipate opening it the following year."

Tourism and infrastructure

Beyond the public pool, the focus of Vianden's municipal administration is on enhancing the town's appeal to tourists. Among the proposed initiatives is the pursuit of a new tenant for the Moulin campsite, with the aim of restoring it to its former status as a top-tier facility. The previous municipal executive board had considered using part of the campsite for a new municipal workshop. However, the new majority is inclined to retain the existing workshop location and expand it there for the time being. Should a completely new facility become necessary down the road, Weyrich has another idea in mind.

Without wanting to go into too much detail, Weyrich hinted that the construction of a new municipal workshop outside of Vianden could be considered as part of a merger with a neighbouring municipality. Weyrich emphasised that such considerations would be subject to careful evaluation over the coming years.

Weyrich identified Tandel as a potential partner for a merger, highlighting improved relations with the neighbouring municipality in the past few months. Recent years had seen tensions arise, particularly concerning various medical facilities. It is worth noting that both Vianden and Tandel received new municipal leadership following the recent elections.