Town twinning, as an official relationship-builder, started in Europe after the second world war. The idea was simple: repair damaged relationships between France, Germany and the UK. Find towns that suffered during the wars and pair them. Then encourage people from these areas to meet, mix and get along. That’s why town twinning – at its core – is a good and important thing.
So why do it now? After all, people can travel all around Europe easily, cheaply and freely these days. Because town twinning is a relationship. It’s long-term. It starts, it grows and it can flourish. When it’s good and healthy, it puts its people first. It introduces them to new experiences and new friends. It helps us all to meet, mix and get along. The relationship is about you and the people in your twin town – not councillors or committees. It’s yours to mould.
Brentwood is twinned with the Landkreis Roth in Bavaria and with Montbazon in the Loire Valley.
Both associations are independent, non-political, financially self-supporting organisations. The Landkreis Roth twinning was inaugurated by Bentwood Borough Council to implement the Partnership Agreement with Landkreis Roth signed in May 1979.
Its main function is to encourage and promote exchange visits between the two areas, with particular emphasis on youth and cultural exchanges. Visits happen every year with local hosts visiting each other in alternate years.
Landkreis Roth lies in the Mittelfranken region of Bavaria in Southern Germany, immediately to the south of the historic city of Nurnberg. It is largely rural in character, with some light industry, and is noted for hops and cherries.
Montbazon is a beautiful French town with a 10th Century castle near Tours in the Loire Valley, and it has been twinned with Brentwood since 1994.
Both associations have a programme of social activities during the year and plan the 5-day visits every second year here. There is no requirement to speak either language, but there are opportunities to learn or practice them in a social environment.
Local clubs and businesses can develop contacts outside the annual visits supported by both organisations.
For further information about events and/or membership, contact:
Landkreis Roth – jane.winter64@gmail.com
Montbazon – membership.brentwoodfrench@gmail.com
Montbazon
Roth
