© 2005 www.tuebingen.de | Sister Cities
Within Europe, as well as in Russia and the U.S.A. the university town of Tübingen fosters bonds of partnership. Active cultural and political exchange take place between the towns and communities in Tübingen's sister cities. There are many contact points for a lively exchange, ranging from official visits to cooperation between schools and universities, performances, collective projects in culture and economy as well as private contacts.
Aigle, SwitzerlandOn October 12th, 1973 a partnership contract was signed between Tübingen and the town of Aigle in Suisse romande (canton Vaud). The two communities had been in close contact through exchange programs between Kepler Gymnasium in Tübingen and the Collège d'Aigle before the contract. Several associations and clubs, as well as reciprocal visits of official delegations and of the municipal councils, contribute to the good relationship. In July 2003, on the occasion of the town fair in Tübingen, the 30th anniversary of the partnership was celebrated.
Aix-en-Provence, FranceSince October 20th, 1960 the university towns of Tübingen and Aix-en-Provence have had a partnership. In 1965 Aix-en-Provence and Tübingen received jointly for their activities the Europe Prize. With a multitude of exchange programs, the close relationship of the universities, joint cultural projects and reciprocal visits of merchants on traditional markets (gastronomic specialties, arts and crafts) the mutual interest is still alive and well even after more than 40 years.
Ann Arbor, USAThe town Ann Arbor in Michigan was co-founded by Swabian emigrants in 1824. It created an official partnership with the university town of Tübingen on November 17th 1965. The "Amerika-Haus" in Tübingen (d.a.i.) and the Association of Ann Arbor Swabians were very active in their support to bring this about. An exchange program has been offered to all pupils in Tübingen every two years since 1987. Reciprocal visits and a lively exchange among artists cultivate the relationship.
Durham, EnglandThe partnership with Durham County in England has existed since 1969. The impulse was given by the Kepler-Gymnasium in Tübingen, who organized an exchange program for teenagers, and through which young people from County Durham come to Tübingen and vice versa every year. The Carlo-Schmid-Gymnasium has also maintained an internal school exchange for decades; a multitude of associations, clubs and orchestras support the friendship as well. New technology has been established in Durham since 1993 which offers the chance to transfer technologies between the two partner towns.
Kilchberg, Switzerland
The partnership between the Tübingen-Kilchberg district and Kilchberg near Zürich was established in 1956 and signed 25 years later in 1981. Every year there are meetings between the administrations, the fire departments and the clubs. Private relationships and friendships enhance the good rapport. Alternating each year there is an exchange for teenagers over the holidays. 
Kingersheim, France
In 1959 the two former mayors of the communities of Hirschau and Kingersheim (Alsace) got to know each other. In 1963, after intense discussions, both mayors were able to convince their municipal councils and citizens that reconciliation between the French and the Germans could best be promoted by partnerships on a communal level. In this belief the signing of the contract took place in a ceremony on September 14, 1963. Since then there has been an active partnership between the two communities on a municipal and private basis, as well as between different associations and clubs. 
Monthey, SwitzerlandTwo Swiss authors founded the International Mayors Union near Vevey at Lake Geneva and within this framework Tübingen and Monthey had contact for the first time. On June 14, 1959 the partnership was officially sealed. Programs for pupils' exchange, official delegations, reciprocal visits of artists, collective exhibitions and concerts continue the close alliance until today.
Perugia, ItalyNumerous amicable relationships, inter alia by common partner town Aix-en-Provence, led Tübingen and Perugia to become sister cities on June 21st, 1984. Since then many pupils, associations and sports clubs, artists and deputies of the municipal councils and municipalities visit each other with unbroken interest. Since 1996 Perugia's merchants and cultural groups have added the Italian touch to the Umbrian-Provencal Market.
Petrosawodsk, RussiaIn 1987 the municipal council of Tübingen decided on a twin town of comparability in the then Soviet Union; in October 1989 the sister cities was founded with Petrosawodsk in Karelia and the links were official. The relationship lives from long standing contacts on various levels and last but not least from the willingness to accept the sometimes long and troublesome journey.
Villa El Salvador, PeruOn 24 September 2006, Mayor Jaime Zea Usca and Lord Mayor Brigitte Russ-Scherer both signed the document which seals the sistercityship between the City of Villa El Salvador and the City of Tübingen. In December 2005, the Tübingen City Council had decided on this sistercityship. Its long-term aims are cultural and political exchange, understanding among nations, active peacework and growing relations between volunteers in both cities.
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