Hexham’s links with its two twin towns, Metzingen and Noyon, have been established for over thirty years and are still going strong
The only language you need to join us is that of international friendship - come and be part of town twinning!
Our Aims
To promote and foster international friendship and understanding/ To encourage visits by individuals and groups to and from our twin towns, especially by young people/ To broaden mutual understanding of cultural, recreational, educational and commercial activities in our partnership/ To organise supporting social and fundraising activities. You may download the membership form here.
Conversation Sessions
We run regular, face-to-face German and French conversation groups in Hexham. We also maintain regular contact with our friends in Metzingen through German Zoom meetings. Please click here and scroll down.
Mini Oktoberfest 23rd October
Metzingen Visits Hexham, June 2024
We welcomed our first visitors from Metzingen for some time. On Friday 21st June, the first evening a civic reception in the Prior’s Hall of Hexham Abbey was hosted by Mayor Derek Kennedy. On Saturday participants were invited to visit Roman Vindolanda Fort and Museum, taking their own time exploring the site. In the afternoon and evening hosts were free to entertain their visitors as they pleased. A relaxing day on Sunday was again blessed by superb weather. At 7pm a dinner was held in Langley Castle, seen here, a location that fascinated many of our German guests. On Monday it was time to set off for the airport again after three busy days of international friendship. Read more here.
Image © H. Kleineikenscheidt
Hexham Visits Noyon, May 2024
Mayor Derek Kennedy, Hexham Town Twinning Association and Hexham Village Band travelled to Noyon for a weekend of music and hospitality. Many old friends met again and for others it was the first time visiting our French partner ctown. Read more here. Photo: the medieval town hall of Noyon with UK, French and EU flags. Copyright HTTA/SC
Remembrance 2023
Hexham Town Council, in partnership with Hexham Town Twinning Association, organised a peace walk on Saturday 11th November 2023. Together with people in our twin towns (Noyon in France and Metzingen.
Image © Ruby Corder
Do You Have German Ancestry?
You may be interested in an article available here.
Clara Taggart's Stay in Hexham
"If I could copy and paste Hexham to where I live, I would. My name is Clara. I am a political science student in France and I’ve come to Hexham for job experience with Théâtre Sans Frontières. I’ve lived in Hexham for 7 weeks."
Read more Clara's Stay in Hexham.
Hexham Visits Metzingen, September 2023
Members of Hexham Town Twining enjoyed three days accompanied by Hexham Mayor Derek Kennedy. Metzingen celebrated 30 years of twinning with Nagykálló in Hungary. Most members arrived on the Friday and stayed with hosts in and around the town. On the first evening there was a civic reception in the town hall, where residents of Metzingen mixed with guests from Noyon (France), Nagykálló, and those from our own contingent. Read more here.
Noyon Visits Hexham, May 2023
The first visit from our French twin town since the pandemic took place from Friday 26th - Monday 29th May. The trip marked thirty years of the connection with Noyon, a town in Picardy, north-east France, and was blessed with superb weather. Guests arrived by coach on Friday evening and were met by their Hexham hosts. Read more here.
Busting Myths about Town Twinning
You're welcome to join and visit Noyon and Metzingen even if you can't host in return.
You don't have to speak any foreign language to enjoy what we do.
However, you are an expert in a foreign language when you speak English in Noyon and Metzingen!
For other town twinnings in our area click on the name:
Haltwhistle - Prudhoe - Newcastle - Gateshead
Hexham’s twinning credentials go back to links established with Neviges in Germany from 1955 to 1968, with St Lunaire in France from 1968 to 1990 and with Brande in Denmark from 1989 to 1993.
Composite image at the top, left to right, topmost image first: Noyon - Cathedral of Noyon © Amandajm; Musée Jean Calvin © Dguendel; cloister of the Cathedral of Noyon © Office de Tourisme, Noyon; Hexham - West Front of the Abbey © Bob Castle; Hexham signal box © Sadgrovem; Hexham Gaol © Mike Quinn; Hadrian's Wall © Michael Hanselmann; Metzingen - Seldnerhaus © JohnMz; Weinbaumuseum © MMT; Müller-Thurgau grapes ©Rosenzweig; Schillerhalle © JohnMz. Long photo, detail of Hexham Abbey © AlasdairW*. Images via Wikimedia Creative Commons{/modalcontent}