In Mürzzuschlag

Mürzzuschlag: The tunnel as a beacon of hope

Stefanie Felber: "After graduating from high school, I was one of the few who stayed here."(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Jürgen Radspieler)

Upper Styria is losing population almost across the board. Mürzzuschlag is experiencing one of the highest levels of emigration and industry is also under pressure - and yet the town has a positive outlook for the future. Plus: population trends in all Styrian municipalities and how this affects voting behavior.

Dominik Köck knows just about everyone who comes into his bakery's main branch on Friday mornings to drink coffee and eat egg dishes. "They're all Mürzer," says the young entrepreneur. He drinks herbal tea and quickly stows away his MacBook. What about his hometown of Mürzzuschlag? Since 2019, the former district town has lost around 600 inhabitants, making it one of the municipalities in Styria most affected by emigration.