France/Saint-Raphaël celebrated its twinning with Woluwe-Saint-Pierre

On Monday July 21, Saint-Raphaël celebrated a milestone in its history: its twinning with the commune of Woluwe-Saint-Pierre. Between the Belgian folklore celebrations on the seafront and the ceremony presided over by the Mayor, Fréderic Masquelier, in the presence of the Burgomaster, Benoît Cerexhe, the event highlighted this new partnership.

Nearly 10,000 people were on hand to celebrate the twinning.

The festivities kicked off with a parade symbolically marking the union of the two towns' traditions. The Gilles de Fleurus, famous carnival characters emblematic of Belgian folklore, strolled alongside representatives of local associations dressed in Provencal costumes. Dressed in a 3-kilo headdress made from ostrich feathers, clogs and a belt of bells, the Gilles brought the waterfront to life.

The twinning ceremony then took place on the Esplanade Delayen, in the presence of the Mayor, Fréderic Masquelier, and Benoît Cerexhe, Mayor of Woluwe-Saint-Pierre since 2013. This union was hailed by the two first councillors as a privileged opportunity to give life to joint projects in the fields of sport, culture and education, as well as to strengthen ties between residents." This twinning between our two towns is not the end of the story. Our two towns are linked by the French-speaking community, by history and by an immense desire to build together. Many projects, meetings and friendships will be born. It's a commitment from the heart that we're making today," declared Frédéric Maquelier. For Benoît Cerexhe: "Coming to Saint-Raphaël is not a chore. For the Belgians, it's the dream of the South, the light, the creeks, the beaches, the markets, the colors... Today, we didn't come as tourists, but as partners and above all as friends. This twinning is not an act of window-dressing, but a mutual commitment. It's a promise: to forge strong, lasting human ties and a sincere union."

Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, a community with an international outlook

Dynamic and attractive, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre is one of the 19 towns that make up the Brussels-Capital region. With a population of over 42,000, it boasts a wealth of green spaces, an exceptional heritage (including the famous Palais Stoclet, a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and a local youth policy. Like Saint-Raphaël, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre has developed over the years a rich community life and first-rate sports and cultural infrastructures. Twinned with 7 cities around the world, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre is committed to international cooperation and dialogue. These shared values and ambitions strengthen the ties between these two forward-looking European communities.

Saint-Raphaël, a land of twinnings

In addition to Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, Saint-Raphaël has been twinned with three other towns around the world: the German town of Sankt Georgen since 1972, the Armenian town of Djermuk since 1997 and the Israeli town of Tiberias since 2007. Each of these cooperative ventures is based on the desire to promote dialogue between cultures, languages and traditions, notably through regular school exchanges and joint initiatives.

Source: www.ville-saintraphael.fr/