France/ Twinning in Deauville has lasted for over 250 years

Philippe Behuet celebrates 30 years as president of the Association de Twinning de Deauville (Calvados), which held its general meeting on Thursday March 26, 2026.

On Thursday, March 26, 2026, the Association de Twinning de Deauville (Calvados) reviewed the year's activities with President Philippe Behuet, who was celebrating his 30th anniversary at the head of the association: "We have two towns in particular with which we exchange a lot. These are Lexington in Kentucky (USA), with which we've been twinned since 1994, and Eicklingen in Germany since 1967, and more slowly with the Irish of Kildare, twinned in 1990. Previous attempts (in 1990) with a commune in Romania were unsuccessful, and now it's to China that Mayor Philippe Augier would like to turn, in this case to Shuang Lang, a town of 18,000 inhabitants, welcoming several million tourists a year.

Philippe Behuet then reminds us that the association has 50 member families ready to exchange and receive: "Last year we celebrated 250 years of relations with Lexington. That's no mean feat. Every year since 1957, many Americans and French students and scholarship holders have exchanged with us and the University of Kentucky. We've had some extraordinary experiences, such as the Lexington Ballet coming to Deauville to dance with Noëlle Picque's dance school.

50 Germans expected

Exchanges between French and German families have been going on for over 50 years: this year, we're expecting 50 German friends at Ascension Day. Catherine Perchey, deputy mayor, recalled the many educational and professional links between the schools and the two towns: "Our children learn English from nursery school to CM2, and also in the youth centers.

Philippe Behuet, after 30 years as president, remembers two things: the tremendous work carried out with our young people and the number of exchanges in both directions. In 2005, for example, the 250 American veterans who landed in Normandy in 1944 received an extraordinary welcome.

At the end of the meeting, he paid tribute to Gerard Guy, treasurer since 2009, who is stepping down this year.

Source: www.ouest-france.fr/