Bristol and Bordeaux celebrate 80 years of twinning relationship

Next year marks the 80th anniversary of the twinning relationship between Bristol and Bordeaux, one of the earliest partnerships established in the aftermath of the Second World War to help rebuild and strengthen European ties.

Image: Lord Mayor of Bristol Henry Michallat welcomed at Bordeaux's Hôtel de Ville by Pierre de Gaetan, Deputy Mayor of Bordeaux

Created alongside Bristol’s twinning with Hannover, the relationship has long symbolised reconciliation, cooperation and cultural exchange across Europe.

To mark the forthcoming anniversary, a delegation from Bristol, led by members of the Guild of Guardians, travelled to Bordeaux to meet civic representatives and reaffirm the enduring partnership between the two cities.

The delegation included The Rt Hon, The Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Henry Michallat, and was led by the Guild’s current President, Edward Corrigan.

The Bristol party was received at Bordeaux’s Hôtel de Ville by Pierre de Gaetan, Deputy Mayor of Bordeaux, alongside Dominique Olley, the British Consul in Bordeaux.

During the visit, both Lord Mayor Michallat and Mr Corrigan spoke about the continuing importance of strong European relationships, particularly the role of city-to-city partnerships in fostering cultural understanding, language learning and lasting personal connections.

The audience included local civic leaders as well as exchange students from schools across Bristol who are currently taking part in the Bristol–Bordeaux school exchange programme, highlighting the ongoing living legacy of the twinning relationship.

In his remarks, Edward Corrigan reflected on his own participation in the Bristol–Bordeaux exchange in 1977 and spoke movingly of his forthcoming reunion with his former exchange correspondent, Jean‑Marc Dougmeingts, nearly fifty years later in Andernos‑les‑Bains on the Arcachon Basin.

He described the exchange as a formative experience and an example of how international relationships forged in youth can endure for decades.

As part of the programme, the delegation also visited YouNus, a youth club supporting children and young people in a disadvantaged suburb of Bordeaux.

Members of the group recalled their own visit to Bristol in 2025, speaking enthusiastically about the lasting impression the trip made on them — including a fondness for fish and chips.

The visit underscored the continued relevance of the Bristol–Bordeaux twinning, not only as a historic partnership but as a vibrant, people‑to‑people relationship that continues to enrich both cities as they prepare to celebrate 80 years of friendship.