Introduction

Bordeaux is Bristol’s first twin city. In 2007, the two cities have been celebrating the 60th anniversary of our twinning link.

The Bristol Bordeaux Maritime links have existed since Roman times, and the two cities officially signed the charter in 1947. The initial link, led by universities with a strong education focus, was inspired by the deep desire to contribute to a peaceful world after the war. Now, the Bristol Bordeaux partnership not only encompasses educational exchanges, but encourages economic development, cultural understanding and good practices sharing.

60 Years - Jubilee programme for Bristol, Bordeaux and Hannover

The Bristol-Bordeaux Association has a sixty year history of promoting cultural exchange between the two cities.

Download the Jubilee programme from the related documents section below and check out our programme of events celebrating 60 years of Bristol's international friendship with Bordeaux.

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Education

The Bristol Bordeaux Student Exchange Programme dated back in 1947, and thousands of young people have benefited through the scheme. At present, over 100 students from about 30 schools in the Bristol area take part each year.

The Bristol Bordeaux Association has funded the Bordeaux mini-assistants scheme in local primary school every year since 2004. The Bordeaux University teacher training departrment sends student teachers to Bristol for two weeks to work as language assistants and to gain an understanding of the local school system as well as improving their English. The students specialise in teaching English in Bordeaux primaries once they qualify. Five local primaries take part each year with support from the Local Education Authority and many have maintained links with their mini-assistant and gone on to co-ordinate school to shool projects the following year.

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Economic development

The two cities are working closely to promote economic development and business cooperation, in particular in the areas of advanced engineering and creative industries, which are strategically important in both regions. A 20-strong business delegation from Bristol took part in an aerosolution business event in November 2005.  In 2007 a delegation from Destination Bristol and the city's Economic Regeneration Team reprersented Bristol in a Bristol pavilion at Bordeaux's River Festival.

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Cultural exchange

Music, art, sport and nautical exchanges between Bristol and Bordeaux are some of the exciting highlights of the Bristol Bordeaux link. In summer, 2005, the City of Bristol Rowing Club represented Bristol to compete against crews from Bilbao, Porto and Bordeaux at the Fete du Fleuve (River Festival) in Bordeaux.

Colston Hall was represented on the main stage at the city's 2007 River Festival with singer / songwriter Katey Brooks and the African rythms of Bristol based band Mankala, who were selected and invited to take part in this bi-annual festival.

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About Bordeaux

Bordeaux, with a population of over 664,000, city is the capital of Aquitaine as well as part of the Gironde. Bordeaux and its urban community represent the sixth largest city in France. Located 557 km south-west of Paris, 50 km from the Atlantic Ocean and 200 km from Spain, it enjoys a privileged geographical location. Because of its southernmost position, Bordeaux was the first French port to trade with Africa. The richness of its back-country, and in particular its world famous wine, enabled it to establish many international exchanges.

With its exceptional architectural heritage, Bordeaux is regarded as a "town of art”. Like Bristol, the harbour and the river represents some of the major attractions in the cities. The urban project, from economic regeneration to urban renewal around the harbourside neighbourhood, taken place during the past few years has proved to be a successful major redevelopment initiative of the city . The city’s tram system features the union between the communes of the urban community of Bordeaux and the central town – one of the trams is named after Bristol.

In 2007 Bordeaux was officially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site - the laregst urban entity to be granted that honour. Bordeaux is applying to be the European Capital of Culture in 2013.

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Contact

Teresa Bowen
Honorary Secretary
Bristol-Bordeaux Association

email: tbowen@talktalk.net

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