A NUMBER of towns and villages across Tynedale have formed partnerships with settlements across the globe – here's just a handful of those twinnings.

A twin town relationship is a form of legal or social agreement between two geographically and politically distinct localities, which aims to promote cultural and commercial ties.

Hexham

Hexham is twinned with the towns of Metzingen in Germany and Noyon in France.

Noyon’s most famous son is Jean Calvin who was born in 1509 and there is a museum dedicated to his life in the town centre. Noyon boasts one of the oldest town halls in France, which has an attractive Renaissance façade.

The Rond-point d’Hexham was named in Hexham's honour to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the twinning between Hexham and Noyon.

Metzingen is surrounded by vineyards, and wine has been made there since the 11th century.

The seven medieval wine presses that stand in Metzingen’s central square are a reminder of this strong local tradition.  

Every September a week-long wine festival is held to celebrate the production of the new wine.

Hugo Boss set up its headquarters in Metzingen which led to the expansion of outlet stores. Metzingen now has over 80 of these and its outlet city pulls in three million tourists a year from across Europe. 

Hexham Town Twinning Association said Hexham’s twinning credentials go back to links established with Neviges in Germany from 1955 to 1968, with St Lunaire in France from 1968 to 1990 and with Brande in Denmark from 1989 to 1993.

Prudhoe

Mitry-Mory is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.

Prudhoe celebrated its 40th year of being twinned with Mitry-Mory in 2022.

As part of the celebrations, an exhibition was organised by Prudhoe councillor Chris Barrett, who has visited Mitry-Mory several times over the years.

Commemorative and presentation pieces were shown at the Prudhoe Community Hub as part of the celebrations, along with the original charter which initiated the twinning of the two towns and was signed by both the mayor of Mitry-Mory and Prudhoe respectively.

Haltwhistle

Haltwhistle is paired with the Medieval town of Valentano north of Rome. It is situated on a mountainside overlooking the largest volcanic lake in Europe, and has strong links with Roman history and culture.

Haltwhistle has also been twinned with the old town of St Meen le Grand in Brittany for almost 20 years.

The town was the birthplace of three-time Tour de France winner Louison Bobet and it hosted the start of Stage 8 of the 2006 Tour.