On May 2, 1997, representatives of the city district of Bonn and the city of Opole officially declared their intention to establish friendly relations. The most important goals of the friendship between the cities are the free intellectual exchange in all essential areas of municipal tasks as well as the promotion of culture and science.
This takes place in particular in the area of local history and customs, in schools, between young people and in the areas of social welfare and sport.
If you are planning a trip to Opole, you can find the application for a grant for a meeting here.
Delegation trip to Opole - Town twinning has a future
A delegation led by District Mayor Jochen Reeh-Schall (SPD) and three other members of the Bonn district council (City Councillor Brigitta Poppe-Reiners (Rheingrün), District Councillor Elmar Conrads-Hassel (FDP) and District Councillor Hanno von Raußendorf (DIE LINKE)) accepted the invitation from 17 to 20 May 2023. From 17 to 20 May 2023, they accepted the invitation of the Mayor of Opole/Poland, Arkadiusz Wiśniewski, and traveled to the Oder by train together with two representatives of the administration, Ms Barbara Raupach, Bonn District Administration Office, and Ms Verena Schwarte, International Relations Department.
Representatives from the twin cities of Potsdam/Germany, Székesfehévár/Hungary, Alytus/Lithuania and Bruntal/Czech Republic were also invited. Together with the Polish hosts, the international conference participants discussed the importance of town twinning and its direction in the coming years. It became clear that the design and objectives can vary greatly between different twin towns. The decisive factor remains the common interest of both parties. However, not least in view of the current situation in Europe, solidarity between cities in different countries is a clear signal and an indispensable anchor.
Reception of the representatives and further program
During a reception for the representatives, the Mayor of Opole/Poland, Arkadiusz Wiśniewski, emphasized the importance of the town twinning between Opole and its international partner municipalities, which include the district of Bonn.
In addition to workshops, debates, discussion rounds and panel discussions, the program also included a guided tour of the city, which has interesting projects to offer. A community center provides Opole residents with numerous meeting places and spaces for exchange and advice, as well as an exhibition on the formative history of the Solidarność movement, which originated in Gdansk, Poland, in the 1980s and had an impact on Polish politics. As the musical center of Poland, the city provides a platform for the annual Polish Song Festival, which is taking place for the 60th time this year and has its own amphitheater. An adjoining museum provides information about the impressive history of this music competition.
The participants were particularly touched by the digital presence of a representative from the Ukrainian twin city of Ivano-Frankivsk, who took part in the panel discussion in this way. Her descriptions of the situation in western Ukraine and in her own city, combined with her wish for solidarity from other cities, will certainly be remembered by many for a long time.
