Reims – Aachen Twinning Committee
Reims - the city of French coronations - and Aachen – the former capital of the Carolingian Empire - have been twinned since 1967. The man responsible for this initiative was Jean Taittinger, who was mayor of Reims at the time and saw it as a tangible demonstration of the Franco-German reconciliation that had been ratified in 1962 by Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and General Charles de Gaulle.
Because of their geographical proximity, many different types of cultural, sporting and, particularly, academic exchanges exist between the two cities.
Every year, among its other activities, the twinning committee makes arrangements for hosting folk groups from Aachen during the Fêtes Johanniques and athletes during the Marathon, as well as orchestras and bands and also provides financial support for schoolchildren to come and stay Reims during school exchanges.
To increase understanding of German culture and civilisation, the committee organised a series of conferences on the subject in 2002 & 2003 at the Centre International de Séjour.
The committee also organises a trip to Germany each year for its members.
The committee office at the C.I.S. is manned in the mornings – Chaussée Bocquaine: +33 (0)3.36.86.10.55.
Chairman: Henri Desdouits
Emblem: The imperial cathedral
History: After the discovery of hot springs, a spa water swimming pool, known as the Aquae Granni, was built for the Roman legionaries in the first century AD. The village that grew up around the hot springs during the 8C was part of the kingdom of the Franks. Charlemagne chose to build a residence there and had the church of Notre Dame built (the oldest part of the cathedral), as well as a palace in around 800 AD. From 936 to 1531 AD, the town was the site of German coronations, because of its link with Charlemagne. In 1165, the city became an “imperial free town”. Following the Great Plague in 1349, Aachen became a very important centre of Christianity, displaying the cathedral's relics every seven years (Jesus' swaddling clothes and loincloth, one of the Virgin Mary's dresses and a cloth belonging to Saint John the Baptist). In the Middle Ages, the town prospered because of its cloth trade and its proximity to the main trading routes. In 1656, 90% of its houses were destroyed by fire. Under French occupation, from 1794 to 1815, the city became part of the Roer “département” and benefited from a modern economic system. Following the Vienna Congress, it was incorporated into the kingdom of Prussia.
Karlspreis: Since 1950, the International Charlemagne Prize has been awarded for outstanding contributions to the cause of European unity. Among others, it has been awarded to Konrad Adenauer, Helmut Kohl, François Mitterand and Bill Clinton.
Activities:
- A famous spa town with over 30 springs the temperature of which can reach as much as 74°C.
- Because of its Northern Rhineland-Westphalia technical university and nuclear research centre, the city is an important scientific hub.
- Aachen is also known for its horse racing, including the CHIO International Equestrian Championships.
Places of interest:
- The cathedral: Notre Dame church, built by Charlemagne. Several other German kings subsequently enlarged this small palatine chapel, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- The cathedral treasury which houses some precious relics.
- The Gothic-style city hall, built on the foundations of the Palatine Palace, with its coronation room.
Source:
Official Aachen city Website – http://www.aachen-tourist.de/
For further information
Aachen Tourist Service
Postfach 2007
D-52022 Aachen
Phone: +49-241-18 02 94 0
Fax: +49-241-18 02 93 0
Email: >info@aachen-tourist.de
Reims – Canterbury Twinning Committee
Phone: +33 (0)3.26.09.06.21.
The committee office at the C.I.S. is manned in the mornings – Chaussée Bocquaine: +33 (0)3.26.86.10.55.
Chairperson: Thérèse Delasalle
Email: therese.delesalle@wanadoo.fr
Reims and Canterbury have a number of historic points in common – they were both ancient Roman cities and they both have a prestigious cathedral that has played a major role in the history of the people.
Reims was twinned with Canterbury on 13 May 1962 for the purpose of establishing long-term relations between the two cities.
Both cities have a twinning committee in the form of an association, each with the mission of promoting and facilitating exchanges between the populations of both cities. The executive committee also considers requests for aid, when accompanied by a project dossier, in relation to school, university, sports or social exchanges.
Locally, it organises its own events to bring its members together to stimulate the association and increase knowledge of England in the past and present day through conferences and organised travel.
Permanent contact is maintained with the English Canterbury-Reims committee in order to pass on information and requests.
Canterbury is often represented in Reims at the Fêtes Johanniques, the Marathon and the Christmas market.
A host of events took place in 2002 to mark the 40th anniversary, notably sports competitions, concerts (classical music, jazz, exchanges between the choirs of the two cathedrals), philatelic activities (postal logo, anniversary card and first-day cover stamp), an exhibition of English artists, etc.
Reims-Florence Twinning Committee
The Reims-Florence twinning committee was created in 1954 by the mayors of both cities, René Bride and Georgio La Pira. It organises an increasing variety of activities for a broad spectrum of the general public with an interest in Florentine culture.
The committee's main activities are:
- Introduction to Florentine culture, especially the Renaissance, through organised travel, conferences, excursions to visit exhibitions devoted to Italian art and concerts.
- Exhibitions featuring the work of local artists or of museums in both cities.
- An Italian cinema week.
- School exchanges (primary, secondary and university)
- Forums for the disabled of both cities.
- Professional forums for doctors, lawyers and company heads.
- The participation of groups from Reims and Florence in the Fêtes Johanniques, Marathon de Reims and Guarda Firenze, cycling events, rowing competitions, football matches, golf tournaments, etc.
- Hosting of young Florentine theatre troupes as part of Brut de Scène at the MJC Le Flambeau (community arts centre).
Office at the home of the president: 169, rue des Capucins
Phone: +33 (0)3.26.40.05.14.
Chairman: Gérard Stasi
Website: www.reims-florence.com
Reims-Salzburg Twinning Committee
It was thanks to relations between Jean Taittinger, the mayor of Reims, and Herr Engels, a businessman from Salzburg that the two cities were twinned in Salzburg in July 1964 and Reims 14 months later.
Both are cities with a wealth of art and prestigious monuments that have increased the number and variety of exchanges between their inhabitants for almost forty years now.
The committee in Reims offers sponsorship and active support for a great many events intended to strengthen the bond between the city of coronations and the birthplace of Mozart:
- Advent concert in Reims for musicians and choristers from Salzburg
- Hosting of groups from Salzburg during the Fêtes Johanniques”
- Participation in the marathons and half-marathons of both cities
- Academic exchanges for all ages of pupils and students
- Organisation of “Discovering Salzburg” trips for committee members.
Phone: +33 (0)3.26.85.35.22.
The committee office at the C.I.S. is manned in the mornings – Chaussée Bocquaine: +33 (0)3.26.86.10.55.
Chairman: Pierre Burguet
Reims-Arlington Twinning Committee
In August 2004, when Reims was celebrating the 60th anniversary of its liberation by the American army, the mayor of Reims - Jean-Louis Schneiter - and the chairwoman of the city of Arlington - Barbara Favola - signed a draft agreement that led to the twinning of Reims with Arlington.
Arlington – a city of 200,000 inhabitants on the east cast of the United States, lying on the banks of the Potomac opposite Washington – has since become a very active partner city.
For over forty years, the twinning committees have created a network of international communications and exchanges.
This partnership between the two cities has already demonstrated on numerous occasions that it is a long-term commitment.
Besides school and sports exchanges, exhibitions, conferences and art projects, a book entitled “Reims et les Américains” has also been published.
From a membership of 50 in 2004, the Reims-Arlington committee now has almost 200 active members.
Arlington, a city of 200,000 inhabitants, lies on the banks of the Potomac opposite Washington on the east cast of the United States.
It has many monuments and places of interest to visitors, including J.F.Kennedy’s grave. Arlington is also home to the Pentagon headquarters.
Reims-Arlington twinning committee
18, boulevard de la Paix – BP 161 – Reims Cedex 51056
Phone: +33 (0)3.26.47.26.26.
Chairman: Arnaud Desplanques
Email: adesplanques@aol.com
Website: : http://www.reims-arlington.org/
Reims-Brazzaville Twinning Committee
The twinning of Reims with Brazzaville, which was signed on 5 July 1961 by deputy mayor Simon Bilombo on behalf of Fulbert Youlou, mayor of Brazzaville and the president of Congo, remained inactive for many years.
The shared ambition of mayors Hugues Ngouélondélé and Jean-Louis Schneiter to revive the issue of twinning was fulfilled on 19 February 2005 at Reims city hall, with the signing of the renewal of the Twinning Oath (another ceremony will be held in Brazzaville next September).
Brazzaville – an historic city
Founded in 1880 by Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, Brazzaville was initially a French post in what was Stanley Pool, responsible for getting the caravans to the west coast of Africa.
Following the Berlin Conference of 1885, by which the left bank of the River Congo was placed under the sovereignty of Belgium's Leopold II, Brazzaville, on the right bank of the river, became the capital of French Equatorial Africa in 1904.
During the Second World War, when continental France was occupied by Nazi Germany, General de Gaulle arrived in Brazzaville on 24 October 1940 to provide France with a legal status. Since then, the city has acquired a reputation for being a free town.
On 23 November 1956, the first democratic municipal elections were held, as a result of which the first black mayor – Abbot Fulbert Youlou – was elected.
21 mayors have followed him in Brazzaville. Three of them were elected democratically, including the present mayor, Hugues Ngouélondélé.
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