Valašské Meziříčí (CZ), known colloquially by residents as Valmez, is a small town of 22,000 inhabitants in the south east of Czechia. Well-known as a centre for chemical production and manufacturing, as well as its strong retail sector, Valmez is home to a vibrant community that prides itself on balancing modern ambitions with a strong sense of tradition.

Back in 2015 the town took part in URBACT’s <link https: urbact.eu citycentredoctor _blank>City Centre Doctor network, the aim of which was to help local governments make better use of their CBDs, protecting them amongst other things from competition from out of town shopping centres. As part of the network, the local council invested in new public services, improved parking facilities, cleaned-up the riverbanks and beautified the old town with trees and green spaces.

The greatest success, though, was a new-fangled events programme which has so-far included everything from a farmer’s market to a beach volleyball tournament.

“URBACT helped us to organise, but it also opened our minds to new ideas” confirms Václav Valčík, a project manager at the municipality. Of all the actions, though, the Světlo Valmez light festival is undeniably that which has most vindicated the town hall’s collaborative approach.

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