Town Twinning - Royston Town Council

Royston & District Town Twinning Association

Town twinning in Royston and the surrounding villages has been going strong since 1974 when a formal link was formed with Großalmerode in Germany. Subsequently, twinning links have been formed with La Loupe in France and Villanueva de la Cañada in Spain.

Royston and District Twinning Association was set up to foster these links and encourage greater understanding between towns and individuals from different countries and has led to the development of long-lasting friendships and even two town-twinning marriages.

The association organises regular trips to each of the twin towns and host visits by members of their twinning associations. These are co-ordinated with other local organisations who have established twinning links, such as Royston Town Band, the Parish Church and a number of sports clubs.

Regular social and fund-raising events are also run by the association in the Royston area, including boules tournaments during the summer months and a popular quiz night. There are a number of symbols of our twinning links around Royston, including a road sign to Großalmerode and a French post box at the Town Hall.

For more information, please visit the Royston Town Twinning Association website.

Gare la loupe

La Loupe

La Loupe is situated midway between the Normandy coast and the Loire valley, close to the picturesque city of Chartres with its historic cathedral. The countryside around La Loupe is not dissimilar to that around Royston - gently rolling hills. It is on the edge of the great grain growing area of the 'Beauce'. The link was established in 1986.

In 2016 a square in La Loupe was renamed 'Royston Square', in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the twinning link. The Twinning Association organise regular trips to and visits from La Loupe.

Grossalmerode

Großalmerode

Royston's twin town in Germany, is a picturesque small town, with many traditional half-timbered buildings with steeply pitched roofs. It is set amidst the excellent walking country of the Meißner Kaufunger forest. Großalmerode is located quite close to the former border between East and West Germany and the nearest large town is Kassel.

The twinning link was set up in 1973 through Johnson Matthey's connection with Großalmerode. Regular twinning visits take place each year.

Villanueva de la Canada

Villanueva de la Cañada

Royston's most recent twinning link is Villanueva de la Cañada, approximately 20 miles to the west of Madrid. Although close to the capital, Villanueva de la Cañada is surrounded by open countryside, with views of the hills towards El Escorial. The town has 17,000 inhabitants, with a large proportion of young families as well as many students at two private universities. It has been completely rebuilt since the Spanish Civil War, and has grown rapidly in the last 20 years. There are excellent sports and leisure facilities and a music and dance school.

The twinning link was set up in 2011 and a number of twinning visits have taken place since.