In the world of international partnerships, the story of *Aschheim and Leros is as cool as it gets. This is no ordinary partnership; it’s a tale of friendship and cooperation that started with a vacation and turned into something extraordinary. Let’s take a closer look at how the Aschheim-Leros partnership began and why it’s so special.
A Vacation that Sparked It All
Our story kicks off in 1994 when Petra Stilling, a local from Aschheim, packed her bags and headed to the sunny shores of Leros, a little gem in the Dodecanese. She fell in love with the place – the beauty, the cozy vibes, and, of course, the friendly locals. Petra was so charmed that she convinced her parents, who were vacationing on the neighboring island of Kos, to hop over to Leros for a day. They did, and the rest is history.
From Holiday to Advocacy
Petra’s parents, Peter and Anneliese Stilling, were bitten by the Leros bug as well. So, they decided to return to Leros for their vacation in 1995. Little did they know that their choice would set the stage for something big.
During their stay, the Stilling family connected with local folks from Leros – city reps and hotel owners. They chatted about how to boost tourism on the island. Impressed by their passion, the Stillings suggested that a Leros crew should hit the tourism fair in Munich in 1996. The idea was a hit, and a bunch of folks from Leros made their way to Aschheim to get to know the place.
Building New Bridges
Meanwhile, Aschheim was on the lookout for new international pals. They’d already picked Mougins, France, and were thinking about Jedovnice, Czech Republic. But Councilor Peter Stilling, fueled by his newfound love for Leros, said, “What about Leros, Greece?” Despite some initial doubts about the distance, the local council gave the green light to all three proposals.
In July 1998, a crew from Aschheim jetted off to Leros. Their mission? To see if a municipal European partnership could be in the cards. The visit marked the beginning of a promising partnership between the two communities.
The Big Agreement
On December 10, 1999, in Aschheim’s “Kulti” cultural building, the partnership agreement between Aschheim and Leros was officially inked. Mayors Ioannis Antartes and Helmut J. Englmann signed on the dotted line, marking the start of the partnership. It was a big moment in the story of Aschheim-Leros relations.
The deal was sealed again in Leros on June 23, 2000. The Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Leros was there to witness the event, along with a 58-strong crew from Aschheim. The bond between Aschheim and Leros had been set in stone.
A Thriving Friendship
Since those initial meetups in the mid-90s, Aschheim and Leros have built a tight partnership. They’ve had tons of visits and cultural exchanges, which have led to deep friendships. As we approach the 25th anniversary of this partnership in 2025, it’s clear that the story of Aschheim and Leros is a powerful reminder of the incredible things that can happen when people from different places come together.
This unique and enduring connection between these two communities continues to flourish, enriching the lives of everyone involved and showing what can be achieved when folks from different backgrounds collaborate and become friends.
*Aschheim is a community in the east of Munich (Upper Bavaria) and belongs to “Munich district”. It consists of the villages “Aschheim” and “Dornach”. Total area of the community: 2804 ha (28.04 sq km). Aschheim-Dornach has around 10,000 inhabitants.
