Sonthofen – the most southerly city in the Federal Republic of Germany
Mayors reveal their insider tips in the deutschland.de series “My city”. Part 7: Mayor Hubert Buhl talks about Sonthofen.
Mr Buhl, what is special about your city?
Sonthofen is the most southerly city in the Federal Republic of Germany, and since 2011 it has been the most southerly Fairtrade Town with its Bio-Regional-Fair theme. It’s also the gateway to the Allgäu Alps with great recreational opportunities. The foothills and the Allgäu Alps themselves are within very easy reach of Sonthofen. Sonthofen’s combination of highly qualified jobs and its unique recreational value offer an excellent quality of life, and it was voted Alpine City of the Year in 2005.
What do you see when you look out of your office window?
The first thing I see is cheerful people sitting on the terrace of out Café Amt. And in the distance I can see the Hörner Group, a mountain landscape in the foothills of the Allgäu Alps.
Where in your city do you most like to spend your time?
I really like the attractive inner city where I can enjoy the variety of stores and talk with the people. For relaxation, I like going to the mountain farm Alpe Sonthofer Hof with its local produce, wonderful natural surroundings and views of our city from above.
What would you like to show tourists?
I’d take them to the Ecological Park with its huge lime trees and the pond. It’s a totally peaceful spot in the heart of the city. Then I would take my guests to the Malerwinkel in the district of Hinang with its fantastic panorama, and to the Strausbergmoos upland moor that lies above Imberg and is part of the Allgäu High Alps Nature Reserve.
Where can visitors best get to know the people of your city?
The best places to discover the typical Allgäu mentality are in the Alps surrounding our city and in the traditional inns in the city centre. But you’ll also meet classic locals in original shops with special products, such as the Turra distillery or the Euringer ironmongers.
And where do you most like to spend your vacations?
I like to spend them locally in the Allgäu, or the Lake Constance area, especially on a mountain bike or a racing bike.
