Twinning Visit to Marans 2016

In August 2016 we travelled to Marans to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the signing of the twinning charter.

Our hosts had arranged a busy programme of events starting with a guided history tour of "La Rochelle under the Protestants". This included the Protestant museum and a city walk to see their architectural heritage. In the evening at the invitation of the mayor we attended a "Vin d'Honneur" reception at the town hall in Marans followed by dinner at the "Heritage le Marandais" restaurant.

Over the next two days of cultural and heritage visits we went to; the medieval Donjon and gardens in Bazoges en Pareds, the Musical Encounters festival in the gardens of William Christie at Thiré, the 12th century former St Etienne Abbey at Bassac, a cruise along the river Charente aboard a reproduction "Gabarre" barge, ending with a brief look inside the "Maison des Gabarriers" at St Simon.

The weather was hot and sunny for the entire five day visit. Ideal, because on the last day we enjoyed afternoon "Aperitifs" in the garden of Arlette and Francis, then in the evening, a garden party at the home of Bernard and Annick.

It goes without saying that our hosts had really pulled out all the stops to celebrate the 20yrs connection.