70 years of friendship: Karlsruhe and Nancy celebrate their partnership!

70 years of friendship: Karlsruhe and Nancy celebrate their partnership!

On June 13, 2025, the two cities of Karlsruhe and Nancy will celebrate a very special event: the 70th anniversary of their sister city relationship. This association, which was one of the first to be established after the Second World War in 1955, is considered a prime example of successful international understanding in Europe. The initiators have done a lot over the last seven decades to expand the relationship between the two cities on an administrative and civil society level. Over 100 Karlsruhe organizations, clubs and associations have established contacts with their partners in Nancy and have continually expanded their connections, as Karlsruhe.de reports.

The city of Karlsruhe and its partner city Nancy rely on active exchange. Annual student exchanges in August not only promote understanding but also personal connections between young people in both cities. This exchange was originally limited to Nancy, but has now been expanded to include all twin cities and some of their twin cities. This not only benefits students from primary schools and high schools who take part in partnerships and projects, but also the Franco-German circle of friends and the Cercle Amicale France Allemagne (C.A.F.A.), which are actively involved in the further development of the twin town relationship.

Future-oriented city tours

A highlight for the anniversary is the new city tour “Exploring the twin city: Karlsruhe & Nancy”, which is offered by KTG Karlsruhe Tourismus GmbH. The approximately 90-minute tour is aimed at groups and can be booked in German and French. During the tour, the historical background of the partnership is discussed and current projects are presented. Personal stories and encounters are also discussed that strengthen the connection between the two cities. Symbolic places such as Nancy Street, the Nancy Hall and the Nancy Fountain are visited, giving participants an intensive insight into the city's history and the partnership. You can find more information about this at [Busplaner.de](https://www.busplaner.de/de/news/70-jahre-tour-karlsruhe- Feiert-freundschaft-mit-nancy-115444.html).

On June 28, 2025, another festive event will take place in the tourist information center in Karlsruhe. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. this event will take place, organized by the Office de Tourisme du Grand Nancy. The anniversary weekend is celebrated here and the passion for the city partnership is made visible.

Importance of town twinning

The importance of town twinning, such as that between Karlsruhe and Nancy, is also emphasized by experts. According to the Bertelsmann Foundation, these connections bring Europe directly to the people and make a decisive contribution to European unification. It is precisely these partnerships that have succeeded in promoting exchange between citizens. This includes regularly organized trips, student exchanges and numerous cultural events that strengthen the community and promote intercultural dialogue.

With over 70 percent of those surveyed believing that town twinning is of great importance to their administrations, it can be said that the cooperation and mutual exchange are widely accepted. Over 60 percent of participants in a recent study reported that communication works despite language barriers. This clearly shows that curiosity and commitment to international relations extend far beyond the boundaries of age groups and education.

Overall, the upcoming anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate the successes of the town twinning and at the same time to provide new impetus for the future. The shops in Karlsruhe and Nancy are likely to be happy about the many visitors who are taking advantage of the opportunity to get to know the special connections between the two cities.