Zeulenroda-Triebes – sustainable urban development in rural Thuringia

Published

13.10.2025

Author

Franziska Gerlach

Start the conversation

Zeulenroda-Triebes - Urban development in a rural area

The Free State of Thuringia is characterized in particular by a very small-scale settlement structure; accordingly, supporting municipalities in sustainable and future-oriented urban development is a key task of LEG Thüringen. An example of LEG's work is the urban development project in Zeulenroda-Triebes in East Thuringia.

The challenge in rural areas

In the 1990s and 2000s, the town of Zeulenroda-Triebes faced significant challenges due to the economic and demographic developments following German reunification. The task was to create the conditions for sustainable urban development within the framework of an integrated urban development concept, as well as to prepare and implement key projects and measures in a targeted manner. This was intended to sustainably strengthen the town's function as a regional center.

Goals of sustainable urban development

Strengthening the city's economic structure through the development of new commercial sites
Strengthening the residential function of the city through comprehensive urban renewal measures on the one hand
and on the other hand, development of areas for new housing construction
Strengthening the city's tourist function due to its location on the Zeulenroda Sea

"Integrated urban development concepts sharpen the focus on the big picture."

Sabine Wosche, Managing Director of LEG

"In 2005, LEG Thüringen became a partner of the town of Zeulenroda-Triebes in the preparation and implementation of integrated urban development measures. The LEG project team cooperated closely with the town administration, as well as with many private developers and investors. Against this backdrop, comprehensive measures were prepared, their financing supported by a wide range of funding instruments, and numerous key projects were implemented. The integrated implementation of a comprehensive tourism concept for the Zeulenroda Sea was one of our key projects."

From concept to urban redevelopment

1

The basis for the activities of LEG Thüringen was the integrated urban development concept (ISEK) of 2002/03, which was updated by LEG in 2013/14 as needed.

2

The ISEK clearly defined the key projects and measures, including the measures in the historic old town within the framework of urban renewal, as well as the tasks for revitalization measures of brownfield sites. The project consortium was accompanied; further networking with relevant stakeholders, including SMEs and research institutions, took place.

3

Secondly, the ISEK prepared sites for new housing construction and described in detail the preparation and implementation of the measures at Zeulenrodaer Meer.

4

LEG acted as a redevelopment and urban development agency and took over project management at Zeulenrodaer Meer – always in close cooperation with the city administration, private developers in the old town, businesses and the city's housing companies – and with the involvement of the citizens.

Creating a sustainable infrastructure

Milestones in urban development included the revitalization of three inner-city, formerly commercially used areas for housing and a medical center, the sustainable redesign of the entire market/cloth market area including adjacent buildings, the implementation of an architectural competition for the conversion of the prefabricated housing areas, which recently enabled the successful realization of initial construction phases, the implementation of numerous construction measures on private residential buildings in the historic old town in cooperation with the private owners, and the implementation of a holistic concept for the realization of a sustainable tourist infrastructure at the Zeulenroda Sea, culminating in a competition and the construction of a holiday home complex.