Twin Towns (part two)

In the previous issue of Lifestyle Moray, we delved into the wonderful twindom of some of our finest home towns and their exotic continental siblings situated all over the globe. In this issue, we explore another handful of the beautiful bonds between other sets of siblings, this time taking in our Scottish neighbours in the surrounding regions. Are you seeing double? Well perhaps so after trying to keep track of the familial bonds we share.

By Mica Bale

scenery, as inspiring as Scotland’s landscapes. Visitors are often eager to see the Rosenberg Fortress which is widely considered among the best preserved structures of its kind in Bavaria.

Banffshire - With the entire historic county being twinned with Kronach for nearly fifty years, the links between Banffshire and its German twin are very strong. In recent years exchanges have occurred between schoolchildren from each of the two communities. With special trips to Loch Ness and other local landmarks, there are special efforts to organise another twinning exchange in 2024, which will mark the incredible 50-year anniversary of the joining of the two areas, with plenty of opportunities for members of each region to enjoy an interchange. Located on the edge of the Franconian Forest complete with its mountains, Kronach boasts a rich

Inverness -

As another quadruplet, Inverness shares a familial bond with three other areas in Europe, one in Germany and two in France. Originally twinned in 1956, Augsburg is the third largest city in Bavaria and boasts a rich cultural heritage that dates back for millennia and is known for its connection to the wealthy and influential Fuggers family who established the world’s oldest social housing complex.

The city of Augsburg also boasts a rather fabulous connection to a commodity that sees daily usage the world over - diesel. Yes, Rudolph Diesel’s family originally hailed from this Bavarian settlement. The son of immigrants, Diesel went on to create the diesel engine which uses, of course, the fuel of the same name. Reportedly the patent for his invention was first given to a local factory in Augsburg to develop the prototype. Frequent visits have been arranged over the decades including a showcase of Highland games. A visit to Augsburg is a sausage lover’s delight - with several delicious varieties to try.

The Twinning of Inverness and French towns La Baule and St. Valery-en-Caux were formulated in 1981 and 1987 respectively. Although twinning with St. Valery was not officially established until the 1980s, the friendship began in the Second World War years when the 51st Highland regiment were caught in the Normandy territory. Reportedly the local people were hospitable to the captured soldiers and saw in them a kindred spirit - a group of individuals placed in a situation none of them had wished for. The congeniality continued down through the generations so much so that after St. Valery was all but destroyed, relief aid was given from Inverness. Visits rooted in these shared wartime experiences continued until an official twinning took place in the 1980s.

Banff and…Banff - Yes, it may be a less official link that joins our Banff with Canada’s Banff situated in Alberta but with gorgeous landscapes and stunning mountain scenery, it appears that the two Banffs hold more than just a name in common. Interestingly Canada’s Banff can credit its early origins with Scotland’s Banff after a certain chap by the name of George Stephen, later the first Baron Mount Stephen migrated to Canada and became the President of the hailed Canadian Pacific Railway which created rail lines through the land and developed luxurious hotels along the way. He so called this slice of the landscape Banff, in remembrance of his birthplace in Scotland. Although there is still yet to be an official agreement between the two Banffs, it is expected that this shared heritage will indeed soon be cemented.

As with all connections between family and friends, twin towns thrive where there is frequent and rewarding interaction so why not see what activities, trips and general communication is happening in your local area? Who knows, perhaps in a few months time you could be meeting and calling people you never knew existed and planning a very exciting next few years - all thanks to the wonderful connection between twins.