Citizens of Leutkirch pooled their resources and came up with one million Euros to buy and refurbish their town’s dilapidated railway station. The building had stood empty for years, with plaster crumbling off the walls and rain seeping through the broken windows. Thanks to the residents’ commitment, the over 125-year-old emblem of the city is now an urban gem again. Where travellers used to wait for trains, waiters now serve delicious food. Where railway officials used to check train schedules, regional companies now have their offices. And under the roof a visitors’ centre provides information about the “sustainable city”.