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The City of Chichester has always had strong international links many of which were established during the Second World War when the City was surrounded by airfields from which airmen of many nationalities flew.

It was also the headquarters for General Eisenhower before D-Day. In the post-war years some links were formalised with the establishment of town twinning.

The ideals of twinning are expressed in the charter signed with Chartres in 1959 and held in the Council House

‘to promote and maintain friendly relations, and to encourage economic, cultural and social exchanges that may draw the citizens of Chichester and Chartres closer together’


Chartres
The cities of Chichester and Chartres have much in common, both being set within a farming belt, similar distances from their capital cities, and most notably, possessing between them two of the most beautiful cathedrals in Northern Europe. For nearly fifty years many exchanges between the two cities have taken place in many different fields of activity. The most regular has been between Chichester’s ‘Association of Friends of Chartres’ and their counterpart the ’Association des amis des jumelages de Chartres’ but many other sporting and cultural exchanges take place.


Ravenna
The walled City of Ravenna in Italy, had been twinned with Chartres since 1957, but only became twinned with Chichester in 1996. Both Cities have much in common, with histories going back to the Roman Empire, and being walled towns. Working with its Italian counterpart ‘Amici di Chichester’ and the Chichester City Council the twinning ‘Association of Friends of Ravenna’ supports the sporting and cultural exchanges that takes place.
For more information on twinning, contact the City Council.

www.chichestercity.gov.uk
Tel: 01243 788502


Friendship Towns
Over the years Chichester has had links with many other cities but these have been of an informal nature. In 2006 the City Council declared its intention that these links should be recognised by the designation ‘Friendship Towns’ and drew up a Declaration of Intent. The key element is that the City Council would act as a focal point and gateway for towns seeking to develop links with the City through education, culture, commerce, holiday and recreational activities. The first friendship agreement was signed in 2006 with the City of Kursk in the Russian Federation.

Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication and the statements contained herein are believed to be correct, the publishers and promoters cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies. Reproduction of any part of this publication in any format, without permission, is strictly forbidden. A selection of pictures on this website provided courtesy of © J. Rob Campling.