45 years of friendship: Schwalmstadt celebrates partnership with Loriol!

45 years of friendship: Schwalmstadt celebrates partnership with Loriol!

A little perspective from Hesse to France: The Schwalmstadt partnership association recently celebrated a significant anniversary. Over Ascension Day, a delegation visited the twin town of Loriol to celebrate the 45 years of friendship between the two cities. This promising trip not only included official events, but also cooperation and the exchange of traditions.

The group took a trip to the picturesque Camargue, which lies directly on the Mediterranean. A highlight was the visit to the Mas de la Comtesse bullring in Sète. Contrary to what is often assumed, the bullfight there was not bloody. The bullfighters appeared unarmed, meaning the bulls remained unharmed. After an exciting arena performance, participants enjoyed a delicious lunch of bull meat prepared in the gamekeeper's style and regional butter cake flavored with orange blossom sugar. Spanish folk music created the right atmosphere.

A well-rounded program

The return journey took a ship to Aigues Mortes, where guests could visit the beautiful city and its impressive fortress walls. The following day we spent time with the host families, who organized exciting excursions into the surrounding area and to regional markets.

The traditional celebratory evening was the crowning conclusion of the trip and offered space for heartfelt speeches from the mayors and representatives of both cities. In addition to celebrating long-standing friendship, there was also a strong appeal for peace, solidarity and respect between peoples, especially in a Europe currently convulsed by conflict.

A review full of energy

It is learned that the partnership association had to severely limit its activities during the 2020 pandemic in order to protect members and put health first. Many planned events were canceled, but planning for future meetings is already underway. A new calendar designed to commemorate beautiful encounters is also available and can be purchased for €6. If you are interested, you can contact Britta Stuhlmann directly. The connection with friends from Belgium and France continues and a meeting with the board of directors will be scheduled in the spring to discuss new activities.

These friendly relationships not only reflect cultural exchange, but also a network that enables exciting dialogue to take place across regions. Just as Berlin, the capital of Germany, maintains city twinning relationships worldwide in order to build political and cultural bridges, the friendship between Schwalmstadt and Loriol is also a shining example of international cooperation. In Berlin, intensive contacts between citizens and joint events are promoted in order to promote international networking.

With an optimistic look forward, the partnership association hopes that the next few months will allow for more shared experiences and that the friendship can continue to blossom. The goal, which is also pursued by politicians in larger cities, is clear: joint activities should not only promote cultural exchange, but also offer citizens more intensive experiences and thus increase the quality of life in both cities.

For the future, it will be exciting to see how the partnerships will develop and what new projects may be launched. Peace, friendship and a strong cultural exchange – this is what the Schwalmstadt partnership association stands for as it looks forward to the next few years.

For more information about the partnership association, visit the association's website at partnershipsverein-schwalmstadt.de or find out more about international city partnerships berlin.de.

Stay tuned for more news from Schwalmstadt and Loriol! There are certainly still many stories to be told and shared experiences to be created that touch and connect hearts.