France/Soliers. The Sister City Committee Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary

The twinning committee in Soliers (Calvados) is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Florent Lemauviel, one of the co-directors, tells us about the association’s history, its evolution, and how the annual exchanges are organized.

The twinning committee of Soliers (Calvados) is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Forty years of relations with Ipplepen, in Devon, in England, and 30 years of ties with Krumbach, a German town in Bavaria, in the district of Lower Franconia, says Florent Lemauviel, one of the seven co-managers of the twinning committee since 2025.

Why were these twinning partnerships established?

The Soliers twinning committee began its relationships with the English and German towns under charters signed in 1971 between the Department of Calvados and Devon, a county in southwestern England with a shared history ranging from William the Conqueror to World War II, and in 1986 between Calvados and Lower Franconia, a region in central Germany.

What do these twinning arrangements entail?

We maintain regular ties with Ipplepen and Krumbach. We organize exchanges alternately with the Germans and the English, explains Florent Lemauviel. The last exchange took place over Ascension weekend. We renewed the charter, as we do every 10 years. Fifty-four Germans came bearing a large gift: a wooden deck chair, made from wood from their forest and delivered by van by two officials from the town of Krumbach. “It will be set up in front of the Soliers town hall,” he adds. Every year, the association organizes a garage sale (the 33rd edition on September 13) to raise funds for organizing the trips.

How has the association evolved?

The committee includes 21 French families from Soliers and the surrounding area. Three families have been members since the beginning. We experienced a surge in membership in the 2000s, followed by a decline. The same trend is evident elsewhere in France and on the English side. Forty years ago, traveling wasn’t as easy as it is now, but the twinning program offers more than just a trip. Families interested in this program are welcome to join.

Source: www.ouest-france.fr/