Twinning Activities
Frome has been twinned with Chateau-Gontier in France since 1975, and Chateau-Gontier has, in turn, been twinned with Murrhardt in Southern Germany since 1966. The triangle was completed with the twinning of Frome and Murrhardt in 1983. Recently, after a suggestion by Murrhardt of a Polish twin joining the tripartite, the town of Rabka-Zdrój was invited to become the fourth member of the group. The official signing by the towns’ four mayors takes place this month in Rabka.
Many people may wonder what twinning means and what it involves. In essence it means that the towns take a special interest in each other and arrange exchanges for groups or individuals who stay in the homes of their host families and thus learn something of the way of life of that country, as well as the language.
Various town visits are arranged regularly, including a quadtripartite meeting held annually in each town in turn, as well as frequent exchanges organised by groups such as the Fire Brigade, the Town band, choral societies, sporting clubs etc giving all who wish the chance to be involved. Many people have now formed personal friendships within the exchange and visit each other privately.
The aims of the Twinning Association are to facilitate exchanges on behalf of the town at all levels, between individuals, families and groups.
Numerous gifts to Frome are displayed in the Frome Town Council offices. The grassed area in North Parade was inaugurated as Murrhardt Gardens on signing the twinning charter and a riverside path is called Chateau-Gontier walk. Shortly an area of Victoria Park will be designed and designated as Rabka Gardens.
Chateau-Gontier Bazouges, France
Chateau-Gontier lies about 150 miles south of Cherbourg in the Mayenne region. It is a town of 18,000 inhabitants renowned for its wonderful floral displays and large street and veal markets held every Thursday. The river Mayenne flows through the town helping to make it an attractive centre of tourism. The town has a large modern swimming pool with retractable roof for summer use. An old Ursuline convent houses a state of the art 500 seat theatre and cultural centre.
Murrhardt, Germany
Murrhardt has a population of over 16,000 inhabitants. It is situated in the valley of the river Murr, surrounded by thick wooded slopes in the heart of Swabian forest, 30 miles north east of Stuttgart. It is an ideal centre for walking, camping at the award winning camp site by the Walsee lake and swimming in the heated open air pool. The area was traversed by the "Limes", the northern frontier of Roman Empire, and ruins of the watchtowers and fortifications bear witness to 1,200 years of history.
Rabka Zdrój, Poland
Rabka, a town of 13,000 inhabitants, is a mountain health resort situated in Southern Poland 70 km south of Krakow. It has become a spa well-known for its treatment of sick children. Tourists come in the summer to hike and camp and in the winter to ski. Included amongst its historical attractions are a railway museum and vintage train trips and a 17th century wooden church which houses a museum
For further information on Twinning, please contact Frome Twinning Association Secretary Mrs P.K. Oatley, tel 01373 463985 or see the website: http://www.frometwinning.co.uk/