Denton Town Twinning

Denton Town Twinning Twinned with Montigny-le-Bretonneux πŸ‡«πŸ‡· since 1992 & Kierspe πŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺ since 2012.

Danke Derek for your quick German booster class after tonight’s meeting β€” that’ll help those of us who are heading over ...
15/06/2026

Danke Derek for your quick German booster class after tonight’s meeting β€” that’ll help those of us who are heading over to Kierspe next week! πŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺ

πŸ“† We’re meeting tonight (Monday 15 June) at 7pm in Denton. Drop us a message if you want to join and we’ll send you all ...
15/06/2026

πŸ“† We’re meeting tonight (Monday 15 June) at 7pm in Denton. Drop us a message if you want to join and we’ll send you all the info!

πŸ–πŸ 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲, thousands of Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy.Most of us know the story of D-Day. Wha...
06/06/2026

πŸ–πŸ 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲, thousands of Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy.

Most of us know the story of D-Day. What’s easier to forget is that it wasn’t the end of the campaign in France β€” it was the beginning.

After the landings on 6 June 1944 came nearly three months of fierce fighting across Normandy. Only then did Allied forces break out, race across northern France and help liberate Paris on 25 August.

Just a few miles south-west of Paris sits Montigny-le-Bretonneux. Today it’s our twin town, but in 1944 it was a small rural village living under German occupation. As Allied forces advanced and German troops retreated, Montigny too regained its freedom.

It’s remarkable to think that the peaceful streets, cafΓ©s and parks many of us have enjoyed during twinning visits were once part of a continent at war.

D-Day wasn’t just about one day on a beach. It set in motion the liberation of places like Paris, Montigny and countless other towns across Europe.

πŸ•ŠοΈ Today we remember those that gave their life for our freedom.

Tell us your favourite   city in the comments below πŸ‘‡
06/06/2026

Tell us your favourite city in the comments below πŸ‘‡

πŸ‡«πŸ‡· Manchester has more French links than you may think… πŸ‘‘ Napoleon III lived in Greater ManchesterBefore becoming Empero...
03/06/2026

πŸ‡«πŸ‡· Manchester has more French links than you may think…

πŸ‘‘ Napoleon III lived in Greater Manchester

Before becoming Emperor of France, Napoleon III spent time in exile in the Manchester area during the 1830s.

He lived in what is now part of Greater Manchester and visited the city while plotting his ultimately successful return to power. Few cities outside France can claim a future French emperor once called the area home.

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🧡 Manchester’s cotton industry helped drive the French Revolution’s aftermath

Manchester became the world’s first industrial city partly by supplying cheap cotton textiles across Europe, including France.

French manufacturers struggled to compete with Lancashire mills, helping to accelerate industrialisation in France during the 19th century. Manchester’s economic influence was felt well beyond Britain.

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🚲 Manchester and France are linked through the birthplace of modern cycling

The first recognised road bicycle race was held between Paris and Rouen in 1869, but Manchester was one of the world’s great cycling cities shortly afterwards.

Today Manchester’s National Cycling Centre has close links with French cycling culture and regularly hosts riders preparing for events such as Tour de France.

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🍷 The Manchester Ship Canal brought French wine directly into the city

When the Manchester Ship Canal opened in 1894, ships could sail directly from French ports to Manchester docks.

Wine from Bordeaux, Cognac from western France and other French goods could arrive without first being unloaded in Liverpool.

For a period, Manchester was effectively Britain’s third-largest port.

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πŸ‡«πŸ‡· Charles de Gaulle visited Manchester during World War II

Charles de Gaulle visited Manchester while leading the Free French movement during the war.

The city was an important industrial centre producing equipment vital to the Allied war effort, and Manchester hosted French servicemen and refugees who had escaped occupied France.

French is one of the world’s most widespread languages, spoken across every inhabited continent. While it originated in ...
30/05/2026

French is one of the world’s most widespread languages, spoken across every inhabited continent. While it originated in Europe, today the majority of French speakers live in Africa, where the language serves as an official language in more than 20 countries.

French is the main language in France, parts of Canada, Belgium, Switzerland and several Caribbean and Pacific territories. It also plays an important role across West and Central Africa, where it often serves as a lingua franca connecting dozens of ethnic and linguistic groups.

πŸ—£οΈ The global reach of French is largely the result of centuries of French colonial expansion. Today, the language remains a key medium of education, government, diplomacy and business in many countries, making the Francophone world one of the largest linguistic communities on the planet.

Did you know, more than 320 million people worldwide speak French, and Africa is projected to account for the vast majority of future growth in the French-speaking population. πŸ‡«πŸ‡·

🍷 Imagine dragging out a table, bringing a dish, sharing wine, and actually talking to your neighbours...That’s exactly ...
30/05/2026

🍷 Imagine dragging out a table, bringing a dish, sharing wine, and actually talking to your neighbours...

That’s exactly what happened this week in our twin town of Montigny-le-Bretonneux during the annual π…πžΜ‚π­πž 𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐕𝐨𝐒𝐬𝐒𝐧𝐬 (Neighbours’ Festival), which saw residents gather outdoors to share food, conversation and a bit of sunshine. β˜€οΈπŸ₯–πŸ°

What’s interesting is that this isn’t some centuries-old French tradition. It only began in Paris in 1999 after concerns that modern life was becoming increasingly isolated and people no longer knew those living next door. Today, millions of people across France take part each year, turning streets, courtyards and apartment blocks into giant community get-togethers.

No tickets. No stage. No formal programme. Just neighbours meeting neighbours πŸ‡«πŸ‡·πŸ€πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§

πŸ“© Want to get involved in town twinning? Everybody’s welcome - just drop us a message!

πŸŽΊπŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ 𝐖𝐑𝐒𝐭 π…π«π’ππšπ² 𝐒𝐬 π›πšπ§π 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐒𝐧 π“πšπ¦πžπ¬π’ππž 𝐚𝐧𝐝 π’πšπππ₯𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐑!Every year on Whit Friday, villages and towns across our area co...
29/05/2026

πŸŽΊπŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ 𝐖𝐑𝐒𝐭 π…π«π’ππšπ² 𝐒𝐬 π›πšπ§π 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐒𝐧 π“πšπ¦πžπ¬π’ππž 𝐚𝐧𝐝 π’πšπππ₯𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐑!

Every year on Whit Friday, villages and towns across our area come alive with the sound of brass! 🎢

Local, national and international brass bands travel between contests, performing on streets, greens and squares in a musical tradition unique to our part of the world.

From Mossley to Denton, Stalybridge to Uppermill, it’s a proud piece of local heritage that draws thousands of visitors β€” and brings communities together through music and celebration. πŸ₯βœ¨

Over the years, we’ve had the honour of welcoming delegations from our twin towns in πŸ‡«πŸ‡· π˜”π˜°π˜―π˜΅π˜ͺ𝘨𝘯𝘺-𝘭𝘦-π˜‰π˜³π˜¦π˜΅π˜°π˜―π˜―π˜¦π˜Άπ˜Ή and πŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺ π˜’π˜ͺ𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘦 to experience the Whit Friday magic. From traditional marches to friendly rivalry, it’s always a memorable moment of shared culture.

🎺 If you’ve never been to a Whit Friday contest, today’s the day to give it a go! You can follow the sound of the bands or check out local routes and schedules online.

πŸ“© DM us to get involved in our next exchange or twinning event!

Later this month, a group of Dentonians are heading to our German twin town of Kierspe! πŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺ We’ll be celebrating friendsh...
28/05/2026

Later this month, a group of Dentonians are heading to our German twin town of Kierspe! πŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺ

We’ll be celebrating friendships new and old, discovering the surrounding areas, tasting local delicacies and meeting to discuss new and exciting projects with schools, sports groups, and local clubs.

The delegation (open to everyone) is made up of local residents who pay their own flights and stay with local families β€” that way, you can get the real Kierspe experience! πŸ‘ŒπŸΌ

πŸ“§ Want to come next time? Just drop us a message to get involved!

πŸ₯΅ Denton, Montigny and Kierspe are all melting this weekend… but today’s heatwave winner appears to have been Montigny! ...
24/05/2026

πŸ₯΅ Denton, Montigny and Kierspe are all melting this weekend… but today’s heatwave winner appears to have been Montigny! πŸ‡«πŸ‡·

Tomorrow? All bets are off, and Denton could genuinely give Paris a run for its money. πŸ˜³β˜€οΈ

While many of us are enjoying a Bank Holiday lie-in tomorrow, people in πŸ‡«πŸ‡· France and πŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺ Germany are mostly back at work as normal.

πŸ“© Want to get involved in town twinning? Everybody’s welcome - just drop us a message

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