France/ After "twenty years of friendship", Andouillé's twinning with a Slovakian town comes to an end

On Saturday August 30 and Sunday August 31, the commune of Andouillé (Mayenne) and its twinning association welcomed a delegation from Slovakia for the last time. After twenty years of exchanges and friendship, the adventure is coming to an end.

The story began in 2005, under the impetus of Maria Gombert. A native of Slovakia who had settled in Andouillé (Mayenne), she wanted to introduce her fellow citizens to the beauty of her native country. With the support of the town council and many local residents, a twinning arrangement was quickly established.

European funding got things off to a good start, before the annual garden sale ensured the continuity of exchanges. Over the past twenty years, ten trips to Slovakia have enabled Andolléans to discover the local culture, while just as many visits have been organized to welcome Slovaks to France.

"We haven't managed to interest young people".

On Saturday August 30 and Sunday August 31, 2025, Maria Gombert and the mayor of Andouillé, Bertrand Lemaître, welcomed a Slovak delegation and the mayor of Vràble, Viktor Lehmet, for a final meeting. In an emotional and convivial atmosphere, the participants welcomed the end of a wonderful human and European adventure.

It's with a heavy heart, but with realism, that we've taken the decision to close the association", said Maria Gombert, president of the Andouillé-Slovakia twinning association.The older members are still motivated, but we haven't succeeded in getting the younger ones interested. Nevertheless, we end the year with a smile and the pride of having shared twenty years of friendship.

Source: www.ouest-france.fr/