Karlsruhe and its Twin Towns – Bridges between people

Halle, Nancy, Nottingham, Krasnodar & Timiora

Borders disappear  – Emerging networks create connections between the countries in Europe. City partnerships play an important role in this process. The city of Karlsruhe has five twin cities and also maintains a project partnership with the Croatian port city Rijeka. Many of these have since become traditional.

In 2012, Karlsruhe celebrated its 20-year twin city anniversary with Krasnodar (Russia) and Timioara (Rumania) as well as its 25-year twin city anniversary with Halle (Germany).

Compass needle points east

For Karlsruhe, the main purpose of town twinning is to build bridges between countries and people. Therefore, it is not the exchange of official delegations which has shaped the city’s five partnerships with towns in both Western and Eastern Europe, but rather the personal contacts among ordinary people.

In 1969, after entering into the liaison with Nancy, the fan-shaped city went on to twin with Nottingham in England. In 1987, Karlsruhe was one of the first cities to found a partnership across the inner German border: Halle an der Saale was then still East Germany.

Since then, the compass needle has continued to point eastward: in 1998, Karlsruhe signed partnership agreements with the Russian city of Krasnodar and the Romanian city of Timisoara. In 2011, the city added a project partnership with the Croatian port city of Rijeka.

Karlsruhe & Nancy

One of the first town-twinning projects between France and Germany

The reconciliation with France and the healing of the deep wounds after the Second World War have always been an important aspect of Karlsruhe’s “foreign policy”. When Karlsruhe extended the hand of friendship to the city of Nancy in Lorraine back in 1955, it was one of the first town-twinning projects between France and Germany. The founding of the international youth education and recreation centre was inspired by the same spirit.

Karlsruhe & Nottingham

Following the positive experiences with the French twin city of Nancy, Karlsruhe decided to add an English twin city of similar structure and size – the city Nottingham was chosen. During a City Council session on July 22 in 1969 in Karlsruhe, the Lord Mayors of Karlsruhe and Nottingham sealed the city partnership with a handshake.

Karlsruhe & Halle

Thanks to the significant support provided by the then premier, Dr. Lothar Späth, Karlsruhe was able to establish contacts with Halle even before German reunification. In 1987 Karlsruhe was one of the first cities in West Germany to establish a city partnership with an East German city. Until the fall of the Berlin wall, the encounters were characterised by careful rapprochement and strict adherence to agreements. Later, the quality and scope of the established partnership would change. By providing practical support to the city, Karlsruhe gave Halle’s citizens courage for a new beginning.

Karlsruhe & Krasnodar

Krasnodar – Founded by Cossacks on the Kuban River

Existing long-standing and friendly contacts played a decisive role in the decision of Karlsruhe’s City Council to establish a city friendship with the Russian twin city of Krasnodar in 1992. Contacts in the areas of culture and sports, youth exchanges and a lively interchange between the city administrations were reasons to turn the friendship into an official city partnership.

Karlsruhe & Timiora

Following political upheavals and upon the initiative of then city councillor Günther Rüssel, the establishment of a city friendship with Temeswar/Timioara/Temeschburg was initiated. Contact was maintained on a broad basis, leading in 1997 to the formalisation of the city friendship into a full-fledged city partnership.

Information Source: 2016 Presse- und Informationsamt (Press and Information Office), City of Karlsruhe

Image Sources: City of Karlsruhe / City of Nancy / City of Halle / City of Nottingham / City of Krasnodar / City of Timiora