Breton-Bavarian reunion after a long break - Iffeldorf and Châteaubourg celebrate 40 years
Created: 05/24/2022, 12:02 p.m
By: Wolfgang Schörner
That's how it was in 2012: French people dressed up as pirates at a pageant in Iffeldorf.
© Kathrin Garbe
The partnership between Iffeldorf and the French Châteaubourg has existed for 40 years.
After a long corona-related abstinence, there is now a four-day reunion for the milestone birthday.
Around 100 French people come to the Osterseen to celebrate with their Bavarian friends.
Iffeldorf – It's 40 years since Iffeldorf and Châteaubourg officially formed their partnership.
It was sealed on May 20, 1982 in Châteaubourg by the then mayors Albert Strauss and Paul Lemoine.
Iffeldorf's head of town hall, Strauss, spoke of a historic event for both communities.
And his counterpart Lemoine said such partnerships would help create a better understanding between the two peoples.
Roots go back even further - during a visit to young Iffeldorfers in Brittany
The roots of the friendship between the two places - Iffeldorf has around 3000 inhabitants, Châteaubourg over 7000 - go back more than 40 years.
The foundation was laid 56 years ago.
In 1966, 25 young people from Iffeldorf visited the parish in Brittany with Pastor Michael Schneider.
A return visit from young French people followed just a year later, accompanied by Pastor Janvier and Dominique Bottier.
In the decades that followed, relations became ever closer.
Many friendships developed between families, confirms Wolfgang Bronner, chairman of the Iffeldorf partnership committee, who has been friends with Laurent Thebault, current chairman of the Châteaubourg partnership committee, for 30 years.
You also meet more often outside of the exchange.
For most of those who participate in the partnership,
Ten-year-old marathon - a maypole has already been brought to France
To mark the tenth anniversary of the partnership in 1992, there was a marathon relay race from Châteaubourg to the Osterseen.
At that time, Bavarians and Bretons met in Breisach on the Rhine bridge.
Ten years later, a group from Iffeldorf set off for the partner community by bicycle.
Even a maypole made it to Châteaubourg.
In 2009, the Iffeldorf Maibaum boys transported a 23-metre specimen – in two parts – to France to set up in the Parc d'Iffeldorf.
Five years later, a large sculpture was unveiled there at a partnership festival, showing the churches of both places at the foot of a Celtic menhir.
A special feature is that the elementary schools of the two communities maintain a regular exchange.
He started 36 years ago.
The Iffeldorf-Habach elementary school also became the “Bilingual French Elementary School” five years ago.
The hope is that the children and their parents will carry on the partnership.
Partner churches had to practice abstinence because of the pandemic
Because of the pandemic, the partner communities recently had to practice abstinence.
In 2018 the Iffeldorfers were in Châteaubourg.
The return visit in 2020 fell flat.
After the two-year cycle, it would actually be the turn of an Iffeldorfer trip to Brittany again this year.
However, the French asked if the Iffeldorfer could host the 40-year-old.
"They finally wanted to come back to Bavaria," says Wolfgang Bronner.
Almost 100 guests from Châteaubourg are expected at the Osterseen
Almost 100 guests from Châteaubourg are expected next Thursday, May 26th, led by Laurent Thebault and Mayor Teddy Regnier.
They stay four days.
According to Bronner, the joy is of course great.
But you can't celebrate as carefree as the 30-year-old.
Because of the pandemic, the organizing committee decided to do this "only on the back burner" and to forego a village festival in the tent.
The French will go on excursions with their hosts, there will be a festive evening and a barbecue party.
Mayor Hans Lang and his counterpart Regnier will also renew the partnership agreement signed in 1982 on Sunday.
