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Twinning
Partnership deed signing in Orléans in May 1961
Town twinning with Münster
The partnership between Orléans and Münster was initiated by the French in the post-war period. During the Jeanne d’Arc Festival in May 1959, the Mayor of Orléans, Roger Secrétain, asked the German ambassador Dr. Josef Jansen for a German twin town. Dr. Jansen suggested Münster because both cities played an important role in the history of their country and their populations have a similar political and confessional background. At the invitation of the City Council of Münster, a large delegation from Orléans arrived in September 1960, including former soldiers and prisoners of war. On September 24, Mayor Dr. Busso Peus and Mayor Roger Secrétain officially sealed the partnership – in the presence of the entire City Council and the delegation from Orléans. They made a commitment to “develop the feeling of European solidarity in mutual cordial understanding” and to “establish a European unity which is necessarily the basis of peace and prosperity.” With the active support of all parts of the population, these efforts are bearing fruit.
Student exchanges, relationships between organisations and associations, schools and the universities speak for themselves. The German-French Society of Münster and the Association Franco-Allemande Orléans make the town twinning a vigorous experience. Friendships and marriages, exchanges between interns and young professionals, sports meetings, exhibitions and private trips have become a regular part of the partnership. Over time, many friendships have developed, and the relations between Münster and Orléans are uncomplicated and lively to the present day.
News
Reception "60 years of the Élysée Treaty" in pictures
Reception to celebrate 60 years of the Élysée Treaty
On the 20th of January, the municipalities of Münster and Orléans simultaneously invited guests to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Élysée Treaty. The two cities were connected through a live link. In Münster, the reception took place in the Erbdrostenhof, in Orléans in the Hôtel Groslot. The programme included speeches from representatives of the two twin towns as well as from different associations actively involved in the town twining . In the given context, the video project by the two Franco-German volunteers Kim Amelung and Clément Bacholle was shown for the first time.
Experiencing everyday life of the other for one year: Clément and Kim Charlotte set their mark
A strong culture shock, time abroad in a foreign country, dedicated commitment to twin city connections – or perhaps a bit of everything somehow? Kim Charlotte Amelung (22) and Clément Bacholle (22) are currently experiencing daily life of their counterparts: Both are supporting the municipal administrations in Münster and Orléans through the “Franco- German Voluntary Service of Local Authorities” for one year until August 2023, with special focus on activities regarding the town twinning of both cities. During the joint interview, both talk about their motivations and how their everyday lives are structured. The exchange programme is organised and coordinated by the Franco-German Youth Office (DFJW) and the AFCCRE (Association Francoise du Conseil des Communes et Régions d'Europe). To the interview
September 24, 2021
Mayors renew the partnership oath in Orléans
On the 24th of September 1960, the partnership with the French city Orleans was sealed in Münster in the Friedenssaal (Hall of Peace) of the municipality. Exactly 61 years later, first mayor Markus Lewe and mayor Serge Grouard signed the renewal of the partnership oath in the Hôtel Groslot, the historical city hall of Orléans. Another occasion for the visit was the traditional “Festival de Loire”, at which Münster presented itself to the citizens of Orléans. Within the framework of the work meetings between the municipalities, topics such as economic development, mobility, as well as climate protection and climate adaptation in the two cities were highlighted among others.
Official press release
60 years of town twinning Münster – Orléans
Joan of Arc Exhibition
Jeanne d'Arc - a true heroine
During the upcoming weeks, the international office in cooperation with the diocese Münster shows an exhibition about the French national heroine Jeanne d’Arc. The city of Orléans has endowed the bilingual information board on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the canonisation in 2020 to the city of Münster. You are invited to visit the Domgasse to explore the traces by Jeanne d’Arc. We request you to respect the general rules regarding hygiene and distance.
German-French Youth Project
One planet - one friendship - one (E)mission!
Within the framework of the project "The planet in your hands", initiated by the Franco-German Youth Organization (OFAJ/ DFJW), young people from Münster and Orléans work together in creating an online journal. Using the title "One Planet - One Friendship - One (E)mission!", the journal covers topics related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each month, informative short videos provide insight regarding mobility, water, waste, energy and biodiversity from both twin cities. The project is carried out in cooperation with the Bennohaus Münster, the Youth Council and the Regional Youth Information Center Orléans and with the support of the cities of Orléans and Münster. Click here for the videos: The planet in your hands
The anniversary is extended
Due to the pandemic related restrictions, the anniversary of the twin cities 2020 could not be celebrated like planned. Thus, there are still many projects and activities concerning the friendship between Orléans and Münster this year. The city of Orléans developed a wide-ranging programme, which will partly take place online.
Jubilee programme in Orléans
(PDF, 693 KB)
in french
"Post from friends"
Anniversary action week
from August 30 to September 6, 2020
We would have loved to celebrate together the great anniversary in Orléans in May 2020 and in Münster in June 2020. Due to the corona pandemic, the celebrations, like so many other events, were postponed until 2021. Nevertheless, in the first week of September 2020, we set a sign of deep connection with our friends from France: Together with a German and a French flag, the anniversary flag waved at the City Wine House for a whole week. Besides, a variety of pandemic-compliant campaigns were started in cooperation with the HWK Münster: radio broadcasts by citizens, bread bags, video massages, postcards to friends and film screenings.