The Model Village of Pödelwitz. Film and interview

Since the 1970s, opencast lignite mining has shaped the village of Pödelwitz, situated south of Leipzig. Since the decision was made in 2021 to halt excavation work, the village has stood deserted, with the exception of a few inhabited buildings. The association ‘Pödelwitz hat Zukunft e.V.’ has been working for several years to revitalise the village, including its vacant buildings, and to make it sustainable for the future. The key starting points for this are the repurposing of existing buildings and the preservation of the village’s historic structure. The Saxony Heritage Network has been supporting the association for four years in achieving these goals. In this interview, Kea Weber from the ‘Pödelwitz hat Zukunft e.V.’ association will talk about successes, difficulties and current projects.