Pforzheim strengthens international friendships: eight city partnerships!

Pforzheim strengthens international friendships: eight city partnerships!

Did you know that more than 63 percent of the municipalities in Baden-Württemberg maintain an impressive 1,558 active city partnerships? This is the result of the first nationwide survey by the Baden-Württemberg Association of Cities, which took place in 2024. It became clear that many cities and communities have not only forged local connections, but also built international bridges. Around half of the municipalities have formalized partnership documents, which underlines the importance of these connections.

The enthusiasm for town twinning goes far beyond the borders of our federal state. Germany as a whole has around 6,500 city partnerships on offer, with connections to France, where over 2,200 partnerships exist, being particularly popular. Pforzheim, a city with a particularly active commitment, even has eight sister cities, including Saint-Maur-des-Fossés in France, Vicenza in Italy and Győr-Moson-Sopron in Hungary. Czestochowa in Poland, Nevşehir in Turkey, Irkutsk in Russia, Osijek in Croatia and Gernika in Spain are also on the list of connections that Pforzheim maintains.

The essence of town twinning

Town twinning has its roots in the aftermath of the Second World War, firmly anchored in the idea of ​​international understanding and the pursuit of peace. These connections strengthen municipalities as a central level of democracy and play an essential role in preventing further conflicts. The first official town twinning in Germany was launched in 1925 between Kiel and Sonderburg (Denmark).

Another aspect of town twinning is the exchange of citizens, which leads to better understanding between nations. There are around 17,000 such connections in Europe, with Germany having a very high proportion of over 6,000. In addition to France, the most common partner countries are Italy, Poland and the Benelux countries. The fact that every fifth city or municipality in Germany is internationally networked shows how important these relationships are.

Pioneer Pforzheim and the future course

Pforzheim wants to continue to play an active role in this network in the future. The city plans to deepen existing long-term relationships and integrate new formats and target groups. The goal is to further strengthen the resilience and future viability of the partnerships. At the beginning of June, a German-French town twinning congress took place in Freudenstadt, which gave new impetus for cooperation.

The state of Baden-Württemberg actively supports the city partnerships through various events and funding programs. The aim is not only to keep the partnerships alive, but also to continually revitalize them. Exchanges within the framework of student exchange programs, digitalization and the challenges of modern mobility offer numerous opportunities to further deepen these valuable relationships.

The overview clearly shows how diverse and realistic the town partnerships are:

In summary, twin town partnerships are more than just documents - they are living networks that promote friendships and understanding across nations. Through constant exchange and the commitment of the municipalities, they show: Together we are stronger!

For further information about the partnerships in Germany and Baden-Württemberg you can read the reporting from Pforzheim, Deutschland.de and Innovators Club visit.