France/Tourreilles. Sister Cities: Four municipalities united around Pierre Bayle
A new sister-city partnership with Montesquieu-des-Albères to bring history to life and bridge the gap between generations.
On Saturday, September 26, City Hall hosted a ceremony dedicated to friendship, remembrance, and bringing peoples together. Following Le Boulou and Biure in Spain, the town of Montesquieu-des-Albères officially joined the circle of sister cities united by a shared historical figure: Pierre Bayle, the “Petit Tambour,” the first and youngest child in the army to die for France.
The morning began at 10:30 a.m. at City Hall with a welcome for elected officials and delegations, followed by the signing of the twinning agreement with Montesquieu-des-Albères. One by one, the mayors of Le Boulou, Tourreilles, and Montesquieu-des-Albères, as well as Pierre Durand, president of the community of municipalities, highlighted the symbolic and human significance of this commitment. The mayor of Biure, who was unable to attend, sent his apologies.
A shared history that brings the villages together
In front of the statue of Pierre Bayle in the village square, the various dignitaries then addressed the gathering, before a tribute was paid to the child martyr. Through this new twinning, the four municipalities hope to bring a 233-year-old history to life in the present, while also forging new bonds among their residents.
“Twinning is about sharing, passing on traditions, meeting one another, exchanging ideas, discovering others, and opening up to the world,” the elected officials emphasized, also stressing the need to pass on a shared history, culture, and heritage to younger generations.
After the speeches and the tribute to Pierre Bayle, elected officials, delegations, and residents—led by the “boudègues”—made their way to the Razeire area. A reception, followed by a convivial meal, was held there, featuring performances by the “Boudègues de la Montagne Noire” group, as well as the duo Romano and Stéphano. Beyond the official signing ceremony, this day served to give full meaning to the twinning: bringing residents together, allowing generations to share their traditions and heritage, and continuing, across the four municipalities, the path pioneered by Pierre Bayle.
Source: www.lindependant.fr/
