Politics & Government

City Adds Schwetzingen, Germany as Sister City

The sister city partnership agreement was signed at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

Schwetzingen, Germany, is now the City of Fredericksburg's third sister city.  Mayor Katherine Greenlaw and Schwetzingen Lord Mayor Rene Pöltl signed the Sister City Partnership agreement during Tuesday evening's City Council meeting [video attached].

A contingent of guests from Schwetzingen joined the two mayors for photos and congratulations.  The guests toured Fredericksburg all week.  They were greeting by German flags hanging from the lampposts downtown.

Former Mayor Tom Tomzak traveled with a small group from Fredericksburg to Schwetzingen in May 2010. During the trip, Mayor Tomzak and Pöltl "signed letters of intent to continue to work toward an official partnership," the Free Lance-Star said. The paper reported no city monies were used for the trip.

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Both cities hope the partnership will help build tourism and foster exchanges between the business, education and arts communities, the Free Lance-Star reported. 

The sister city partnership has a blog.

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Fredericksburg became a sister city with Frejus, France, in 1980, according to the city's website.  Frejus is on the French Riviera between Cannes and St. Tropez.

Fredericksburg Sister City Association, Inc. "is dedicated to cultivating a special friendship and cultural exchange between the citizens of Fréjus, France, and those of the Fredericksburg area," according the non-profit organization's website. Fredericksburg Sister City Inc. is a member of SisterCities International.

Prince's Town, Ghana, became a sister city with Fredericksburg in Dec. 2006.  Fredericksburg is officially the first in the Commonwealth to partner with an African city, according to the city's website.

Related Announcement:Schwetzingen Guests Bring Friendship to Fredericksburg


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