Town Twinning

TWINNING REVIVAL 2011

Louth – La Ferté-Bernard Twinning Link

Our Association with the medieval town of La Ferté-Bernard celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2003 on a visit to France and a celebration return to Louth by our French friends in 2005. Both were memorable occasions at which our ongoing commitment to a special friendship between our two towns was confirmed with banquets and entertainment. The Twinning Association in each of our towns makes arrangements for short group visits at relatively low cost planned in alternate years, where possible, to one another. Many individuals and family members in Louth and district over the years have enjoyed the chance of staying in an ordinary French home, being treated to invariably generous hospitality and finding out how many ways we can communicate with one another with even a little or no knowledge of one another's language. Returning home after our unusual breakaway, we realise we have gained fresh understanding of the French through seeing their homes and their locality through their eyes. In return, we have an opportunity to open our own doors to a visit from our new friends, welcome them to Louth and show them in the short time available something of the best of this part of Lincolnshire.

La Ferté- Bernard is in the region of Sarthe, attractive farming country to the South West of Paris ` (2 hrs by coach) and close to the Regional capital Le Mans, home of the famous motor race track (20 mins) It has a population of around 9,000 that makes it of comparable size to Louth, a town rich in history and at the same time with attractive shops and excellent modern sporting facilities. Dubbed in France” the Venice of the West”, its many canals and River Huisne ring the inner town. It boasts a Gothic cathedral-like church (second only in the region to Le Mans cathedral), a chateau, medieval walls, imposing city gate and lanes and courts with half-timbered period houses. A small motor-powered street train takes tourists on an extensive run through the inner and outer town, viewing sights like the beautiful municipal park and lake that offer many boating pleasures and a real sand sea-shore! A trip by boat gives an equally interesting glimpse of picturesque houses and gardens from the vantage point of the canals.

History. Founded before 1035 when the Bishop of Le Mans built a Fortress to retreat to for peace and quiet during the many wars with the English and others the chateau and its chapel were owned for three centuries by the Bernard lords who gave the town its name. It was taken over by the Duke of Orleans, then the Richelieu family and finally registered as a historic monument. Famed for a disastrous meeting between the King of England and King of France to make an end to the many wars of the Middle Ages, it ended with the start of an even bloodier one! But it is clear from the warm reception that English twinning visitors are given that there are no hard feelings nowadays!

For further details or book our Roadshow for your group, club, team etc please contact Robert Gwynne, Twinning Revival Co-ordinator (syp.gwnne703@btinternet.com) Louth 600966 or 07909923893

La Ferté-Bernard (in French).

Louth Old Boys’ Football Club will be travelling to La Ferté-Bernard to take part in their annual football competition and they have spare seats on board for anyone keen to further the twinning between the two towns.

The club has hired an Applebys coach, with all the latest facilities, which will leave Louth Bus Station at midnight on Thursday April 21, crossing the Channel to Calais early next morning. The group will have a two hour stop at a tourist attraction en route before arriving in La Ferte at tea time. There will be the opportunity to meet old and new friends and to explore the Le Mans area over the holiday with the coaching returning to Louth at 11am on Easter Monday.

The cost of the return journey is £100.

Anyone who is interested should contact Brian Ley on Louth 601416 as soon as possible.