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60 years of friendship: Saarbrücken and Nantes celebrate their partnership!
Saarbrücken is celebrating 60 years of twinning with Nantes, promoting intercultural exchange and experiencing a variety of anniversary projects.
60 years of friendship: Saarbrücken and Nantes celebrate their partnership!
Cologne - In the Rhineland-Palatinate capital of Saarbrücken, the city twinning with Nantes is celebrating an impressive anniversary: for 60 years, these two cities have not only linked stories, but also people. As the Saarbrücken newspaper reports, this commitment is kept alive through numerous initiatives, such as the youth ambassador program.
A particularly breathtaking example of this is Lennart Steen, 20 years old and youth ambassador from Saarbrücken in Nantes. Originally from near Hanover, he applied for the German-French Youth Office's program to spend a year in the twin city. He is supported in this by his counterpart Thomas Roulleau in Saarbrücken. “It is a unique opportunity to experience cultural exchange up close and work on projects,” says Steen about his experiences.
Diverse projects and initiatives
The town twinning is not only a variety of programs, but also a lively exchange on various levels. The Website of the city of Saarbrücken shows how active the exchange between the cities is. Students from both cities worked together to design walls on the popular Nanteser Platz, while the artist LadyBug created an impressive work of art during the Urban Art Meeting in the Osthafen that is accessible to all passers-by.
But not only art, culture is also not neglected. Highlights of the anniversary year are the town twinning matinee on July 12th and the promotion of a special Nantes beer for German Unity Day on October 3rd. “Our young ambassadors in particular are a key to keeping these cultural connections alive,” emphasizes Lisa Fetzer, responsible for international relations at the Saarbrücken town hall.
Strong together for the future
The importance of these town twinning relationships cannot be neglected on a political and economic level. Germany and France are pioneers in the number of their town twinnings - over 2,200, like that German-French youth organization underlined. Such ties not only promote intercultural exchange but also strengthen the friendship between the two countries in 2025.
The adventurous encounters of these partnerships not only offer young people in rural areas the opportunity to get to know life in other cultures, but also the chance to expand their language skills and political skills. Cultural and economic connections, which often go unnoticed, are essential in the golden jubilee year of this city partnership.
In summary, it can be said that the anniversary celebrations are more than just a look back at the past - they are a look forward to continued fruitful cooperation that enriches coexistence in Europe. With a good knack for innovative projects and the commitment of young people, the Saarbrücken-Nantes town partnership will remain lively and important in the future.