The Contemporary Witnesses of the KaunertalKaunertaler Zeitzeugen
Kaunertal stories - online for generations to come
Audiovisual Archive - a library like no other
The Kaunertal and Tiroler Oberland Tourism Association are proud to present a truly unique digital audiovisual oral history archive. Renowned German filmmaker Thomas Junker sat down with over 200 people to capture their remarkable stories from the valley.
This includes notable figures such as Tobias Moretti and Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen. This extraordinary treasure trove of memories is freely accessible, in German, to all at www.kaunertaler-zeitzeugen.at
The idea
The rousing idea came from Kaunertal hotelier Charly Hafele: to preserve personal stories from the valley for generations to come. Through his long-standing friendship with documentary filmmaker Thomas Junker, the project quickly took shape. The 150-minute film 'Ein Jahr im Kaunertal – Nacht & Heint' saw over 60 people interviewed in 2014 and 2015 alone, and by 2019, Thomas Junker had spoken with over 200 people in total, capturing between 700 and 800 invaluable accounts from the valley. For the tourism association, the benefits are significant: "Storytelling is becoming increasingly important in destination marketing. This platform allows us to share authentic stories from their holiday destination with our guests. The Kaunertal is shaped not only by its pristine natural landscape, but also by the people who have lived here for generations. We can now make this wealth of experience available to our visitors online," explains Tourism Association Managing Director Michaela Gasser. Through its growing collection of oral history interviews, the archive keeps the cultural and social heritage of the Kaunertal and its people alive for generations to come.
The value of the project is priceless
The creation and populating of the online archive is being funded by the EU Leader programme, the Province of Tyrol, the Tyrolean Oberland Tourism Association and the municipalities of Kaunertal, Kauns and Kaunerberg. A great deal of money has been invested in this unique project. “Without Thomas Junker’s cooperation, this project would not have been possible. Anyone familiar with his work knows that his contribution is invaluable to us,” says Kaunertal’s mayor, Pepi Raich. Junker is regarded as one of Germany’s most experienced journalists. He travels the world for ARD and MDR, capturing the everyday lives of the people he meets along the way. The conversations in the Kaunertal are something very special for him: “I was surprised by the wealth of stories available. I see myself as a tool for the valley’s residents to make their experiences accessible to a wider public,” reports the filmmaker.
The Federal President becomes a contemporary witness
Actor Tobias Moretti has already shared his impressions, raving about the “heart of the Alps”. Now, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen is set to join him as another high-profile interviewee. “The President’s agreement is a wonderful addition to the archive. His experiences and accounts from the valley are, in fact, extremely fascinating. That much we can already reveal,” says Michaela Gasser. The initiators agree that this project must continue. And it will! “The stories from the valley never run out,” declared everyone involved.
