On Friday, 12 May, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal visited Coleford for the naming of St. Hilaire Avenue and Sion Place, during a celebration of the towns twinning with Saint Hilaire de Riez.
Formed in 2016 the twinning has been a major success building strong cultural, social and personal links between the towns. School children, rugby players and choir members who had enjoyed twinning visits, and French and local dignitaries were all present to celebrate a joyous occasion. The highlight of the visit was the naming of two streets to celebrate the links between the two towns and the unveiling of a stone commemorating the visit and the twinning. The visit concluded with the British and French National Anthems being performed by Forest of Dean Brass and the Coleford Community Choir prior to The Princess Royal unveiling a forest stone to commemorate her visit.
Did you know that we have 8 twinning links between towns in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley, with towns in both France and Germany? Keep reading to find out more about the towns that we are twinned with.
Chepstow - Cormeilles (France)
Although the current twinning arrangement between Chepstow and Cormeilles officially began in 1976, the link between the two towns can be traced back as far as 1067, when Chepstow Castle was established in 1067 by William Fitz-Osbern, Knight of Cormeilles.
Cormeilles is a small rural town in Normandy on the banks of the river Calonne, and is built along a former Roman road. The town is known for its antique shops and its architectural heritage, most notably the Saint Croix's church.
You can find out more about the twinning link between Chepstow and Cormeilles here.
Coleford - St Hilaire de Riez (France)
Twinned with Coleford since 2016, St Hilaire de Riez is located in the Vendée region on the western coast of France. The town is a popular tourist destination, with holiday makers flocking to the beaches during the summer months.
You can find out more about the twinning link between Coleford and St Hilaire de Riez here.
Lydney - Bréhal (France)
Bréhal is a small seaside town in Normandy, and has been twinned with Lydney since 1991. The town is best known for its beach, Saint-Martin-de-Bréhal, which is almost 3 km long.
Monmouth - Carbonne (France) and Waldbronn (Germany)
Situated on the Garonne river, Carbonne is a small town in the Occitanie region of Southwestern France. The town has a rural French feel with a quiet and relaxed way of life, and has been twinned with Monmouth since 1975.
You can find out more about the twinning link between Monmouth and Carbonne here.
Meanwhile in Germany, Monmouth is also twinned with Waldbronn, and has been since 1986. Waldbronn is a municipality in Baden-Württemberg, in the south of Germany, and is located in the northern Black Forest
Raglan - Parcé-sur-Sarthe (France)
Parcé-sur-Sarthe, a town in the Pays de la Loire region in north-western France, and Raglan have been twinned since 2012. Like Raglan, Parcé-sur-Sarthe has a historic background, is located in an attractive river valley, and has an economy based upon agriculture.
Ross-on-Wye - Condé-sur-Noireau (France)
Twinned with Ross-on-Wye since approximately 1980, Condé-sur-Noireau is the urban centre of Condé-en-Normandie, a French commune in Normandy. The city has an industrial heritage, and was one of the most active cities in its department, manufacturing canvas, sheets and linen, and famous cutlery.
You can find out more about the twinning link between Ross-on-Wye and Condé-sur-Noireau here.
Usk - Graben-Neudorf (Germany)
Graben-Neudorf is a municipality in Baden-Württemberg, in the south of Germany, and was established in 1972 when two communities, Graben and Neudorf, were united. The town has been twinned with Usk since 1980.
We hope you enjoyed learning about the twinning links between the destinations. have you visited any of the twinned towns? Let us know in the comments below.
Related
As a picturesque and charming market town with a long and rich history, Coleford is compact and walkable with all the amenities and family-friendly attractions to make the town worth a visit in its own right. Start your visit in the market square, where the centre-piece is the historic clock tower, the remaining part of a church that was demolished in the 19th century. Be sure to look at the memorial plaque commemorating the Battle of Coleford, which took place in 1643 during the English Civil War. Then wander the surrounding streets with their Georgian facades and look out for the Tourist Information Centre, where you can find out more about Coleford and the wider area.
The Monmouthshire village of Raglan belies a lively and dramatic past. It is a thriving community with village shops, highly regarded pubs and is famous for its historic castle.
Winner of Wales in Bloom for 40 years, Usk's floral colour is a wonderful backdrop to the gardens. Around 10 private gardens will be open, including the private gardens around the ramparts at Usk Castle. Gardeners' Market with interesting plants. Great day out for all the family with lots of places to eat and drink including places to picnic.
Historic market town on the Welsh borders with lots of independent shops and great places to eat and drink.
Surrounded by the Forest of Dean on the edge of the Wye Valley, and situated on the River Severn, the historic town of Lydney houses some of the area’s must see points of interest. Home to Lydney Park, a 17th century country estate and one of the most beautiful historic gardens in England complete with ruins of a Roman temple. It’s also the perfect base for those who prefer to leave the car at home, as the town is connected to the national rail network via Lydney Station, with trains to Newport and Gloucester.
A bustling border market town, Chepstow is the gateway to the Wye Valley and Wales. Its stunning castle is the oldest in Britain and the Wye Valley Walk and Offa's Dyke Path begin here.
Ross-on-Wye is a characterful market town in the south of Herefordshire offering excellent places to stay, eat and shop. Set in beautiful countryside right alongside the River Wye it’s a great place for fresh air, walking and canoeing with a bustling town centre full of arts and crafts, food and drink, a thriving antiques industry and many historic buildings. Ross-on-Wye is also the birthplace of modern tourism with a fascinating history.
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