Linlithgow is twinned with the French Town of Guyancourt, which is situated about twenty kilometres south-west of Paris and close to the Chateau of Versailles. The two towns have participated in a successful programme of exchange visits for more than twenty years following the signing of an official twinning agreement in July 1989. These exchange visits have been undertaken by several different groups for cultural, educational and sporting purposes, as follows:

Some of the Linlithgow visitors at the National Gardens

• Main exchange visits at Easter weekend to Guyancourt or to Linlithgow, organised biennially since 1987. Accommodation is provided by people in their own homes, a great opportunity for visitors to get a flavour of daily life in another country.
• Exchanges between Linlithgow and Guyancourt rugby clubs.
• Annual visits by Linlithgow Primary School to Guyancourt with accommodation at an outdoor education centre.
• Visits by youth groups, e.g. Linlithgow Young Peoples Project, Guyancourt Hip-Hop Dancers, and tri-partite Youth Music Projects
• Joint presentations by Linlithgow Folk Festival Association, Quern, and Guyancourt Groupe Folklorique
• Sporting and professional contact visits, e.g. football, judo, basketball, ramblers, fire fighters, hospitality industry
• Invitations to celebrate local annual events and celebrations e.g. Linlithgow Marches, Guyancourt Festivals, Burns Suppers

Twinning is open to anyone living in Linlithgow and surrounding areas and individuals, couples and families are welcome to participate. All that is required is an interest in France and the French way of life. The ability to speak a little French can be useful but is not essential as most French twinners speak some English. It can be, however, an excellent means of practising and improving your own French language skills. Visitors from our friendship towns of Pegnitz (twinned with Guyancourt) and Slany (twinned with Pegnitz) are also usually competent in English.

The Association is run by a small committee elected annually.

If you would like to find out more about how twinning works, please contact

Allan Macleod

34 Acredales

Linlithgow

EH49 6HY

01506 842594

allanlinda.macleod@blueyonder.co.uk