Town twinning

Aachen maintains close partnerships with cities in Europe and beyond. These connections promote cultural exchange, joint projects and a strong international network.

Montebourg, France

The partnership between the cities of Aachen and Montebourg has existed since 1960. It goes back to the personal commitment of citizens of both municipalities, who met as war veterans in France in 1959.

Aachen members in front of the cathedral in Reims — Partnership Committee Aachen-Reims e. V.

Reims, France

The university city of Reims is located around 130 km north-east of Paris. The twinning agreement between Aachen and Reims was signed on January 28, 1967, on the occasion of St. Charles' Day.

Halifax / Calderdale, Great Britain

With the support of craftsmen from Halifax, the "Yellow Barracks" in Kennedypark was converted into a home for young people from Aachen. The town twinning agreement between Halifax and Aachen has existed since 1979.

Toledo, Spain

The award of the International Charlemagne Prize to the Spanish King Juan Carlos I laid the foundation stone for the town twinning between Aachen and Toledo, which has now existed since 1985.

Ningbo, China

With a population of 5.7 million, Ningbo is by far Aachen's largest twin city. The origin of this city partnership was the friendly relationship between Aachen University of Applied Sciences and Ningbo University of Applied Sciences.

Naumburg Wenceslas Church — Partnership Committee Aachen-Naumburg / Dan Bonn

Naumburg, Saxony-Anhalt

As early as 1985, the Aachen City Council sought to establish a town twinning with a municipality in the former GDR. This came about in 1988 and was amended with the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Combination of Aachen and Arlington — © NRW-USA Year 2023/2024, Urban Media Project

Arlington / Virginia, USA

Richard E. Carver, who knew Aachen very well through his acquaintance with Heribert Zantis, head of the cultural department at the time, suggested Aachen as a twin town to the Arlington County Board. On September 17, 1993, the twinning agreement was ceremoniously signed.

Group of people in Cape Town — © Förderverein Aachen-Kapstadt e. V.

Cape Town, South Africa

The "Agenda 21 Partnership" between Aachen and Cape Town was established in 1999 at the suggestion of the Welthaus in Aachen together with a self-help organization in Khayelitsha, a township in Cape Town. The official partnership agreement was signed in 2017.

Kostroma, Russia

The Russian twin city of Kostroma is located on the Volga and 350 km north-east of Moscow.

Sariyer, Turkey

Intensive contacts and visits by representatives from business, administration, universities and politics preceded the town twinning between Sariyer and Aachen, which was established in 2013.

Graphic of the town twinning Chernihiv Aachen. Drawing of Aachen Cathedral and the Boris and Gleb Cathedral — Khrystyna Lishchynska

Chernihiv, Ukraine

Aachen's most recent city partnership is with Chernihiv. In 2023, the agreement was signed as part of the eve program for the International Charlemagne Prize, thus sealing the solidarity partnership.