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Alzey
 Harpenden
has enjoyed the link with Alzey in Germany since 1963. Alzey is
a small, bustling and picturesque market town 30 miles from Mainz,
in the centre of the winemaking region of Rheinhessen. The highlight
of the year is their Wine Festival in September, when the whole
town is given over to dancing, singing, eating and tasting the local
wine. Alzey is easily accessible by road or rail. There has been
a constant flow of residents travelling between the two towns every
year - school exchanges and youth camps, private family parties,
sports clubs, artistic and cultural groups, especially choirs and
orchestras, the Rotary Club and the Lions Club.
The ‘Friends of Alzey’ was formed in 1979 to bring members
of the public into closer and continuing involvement with this partnership.
The 40th anniversary of the twinning was celebrated in 2003 with
an exchange of gifts between the Towns.
Cosne-sur-Loire
This small French town (population 14,000) is the busy centre
of an attractive wine growing district near Sancerre in the middle
of France. It stands on the River Loire, about 180km south of Paris,
on the main railway line to the south and just off the N7 motorway.
Like Harpenden, Cosne has few industries, but it does have over
300 shops, a cinema and 41 café-restaurants. It also supports
a very large and lively market twice a week. Sport features largely
at Cosne, especially football, rugby, tennis and judo. There is
also a magnificent swimming pool. A beautiful campsite lies beside
the Loire and there are chateaux to be  visited
in the neighbourhood.
Several private parties have visited in both directions, staying
in private homes, although there are several hotels in Cosne. The
‘Friends of Cosne’ brings together socially all those
interested in Harpenden’s french link and organises hospitality
for visitors from Cosne.
Harpenden commenced its twinning with Cosne-sur-Loire at an official
twinning ceremony in October 1982 when a delegation from Cosne,
led by their Mayor and Member of Parliament, signed the Twinning
Charter.
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