Frampton Cotterell Twinning Association Home Page

<BODY BGCOLOR="#E5E5E5"> <--!Frampton Cotterell is twinned with Kelbra in the former East Germany. Pages include an explanation on twinning, local/area information for both towns and links to other sites. maps and a summary page translated into German.--> <p align="center"><img border="0" src="twinban.gif" width="640" height="155"></p> <HR> <font size="4" color="#000000"><u><b> Welcome To The Frampton Cotterell And District Twinning Association Home Page.</font></u></b> <p align="justify"><b><font size="3" color="#FF0000"> This web site uses Frames, if you are viewing this message then your browser is not set up or does not support Frames. Therefore some of the features and information will not be available to you. This page is a brief summary of the web site without the links and pictures included.</font></b> <p align="justify"><b><font size="3" color="#000000">The object of twinning is to increase local links with foreign towns. Twinned towns or partnered villages learn from each other through correspondence, exchange visits, educational exchanges / tours and business ventures. The system of 'hosting' (living 'en famille') enables members to build new friendships, absorb a new culture at first hand,</font></b> <b><font size="3" color="#000000">appreciating their partners strengths and weaknesses. To become, in fact, the best of neighbour's.</font></b></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" color="#000000"><b>Frampton Cotterell is twinned with Kelbra, a small town in the former East Germany on the edge of the Harz mountains. Initial contacts between the two communities took place in 1992. After many years of exchange visits and working together the twinning was officially recognized by the signing of two charter's linking the towns in 1997 (Frampton Cotterell) and 1998 (Kelbra). The signing ceremonies took place during exchange visits with representatives from both town councils and twinning associations.</b></font></p> <HR> <p><b><u><font size="4" color="#000000">Social Events:</font></u></b></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" color="#000000"><b>Many social events are organized throughout the year raising funds which subsidize functions during visits and travel expenses. Examples of past functions have included an Evening with Fred Wedlock, Rock and Roll American evening, A Steel band Caribbean Evening, Barn Dances, A guest from the 'Antiques Road Show' carrying out valuations, quiz nights and Bar-B-Q's.   </b> </font></p> <HR> <p><b><u><font size="4">Exchange Visits:</font></u></b></p> <p align="justify"><b>Regular exchange visits have taken place between the townspeople through the Twinning Association, local schools, Scout and Guide groups.  The exchanges normally take place in May or October for one week, with one year Kelbra visiting Frampton Cotterell and the following year a return visit to Kelbra.</b></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><b>These visits provide the opportunity to stay with families as guests instead of tourists gaining a unique insight into their culture and daily life.  As a result of these visits many close friendships have been developed. These exchange visits are hard work, but most agree the highlight of the twinning year.</b></font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><b>The local Twinning Association organize a different programme of events for each visit. </b></font></p> <HR> <p align="left"><u><b><font size="4" color="#00OOOO">Frampton Cotterell:</font></b></u> <FONT COLOR="#00OOOO"> <p align="justify"><b>Unlike Kelbra, which is a small town in it's own right, Frampton Cotterell is an outer suburb of Bristol.</b></font> <FONT COLOR="#00OOOO"> <b>Situated a few miles north of Bristol on the banks of the river Frome, Frampton Cotterell is one of three villages which have grown together, the other two being Winterbourne and Coalpit Heath. </b> </font> <p align="justify"><b><FONT COLOR="#00OOOO">The original Frampton village was built on the hill east of the river Frome to avoid the danger of flooding, but there has been a church on the site of St. Peter's next to the river, since 1086. The area was an important center for agriculture, coal / iron mining and hat making. Hat making came to Frampton Cotterell after a wages dispute in London. The hat making and mining industries closed at the end of the 19<sup>th</sup></font></b> <b>century, although the old factory buildings and mine shafts are still in existence. </b> <FONT COLOR="#00OOOO"><b> Today Frampton Cotterell is mainly a commuter town for the major cities in the area. The modern village lies in a long narrow east to west band on either side of the main thoroughfare, which is Church Road.</b> <p align="justify"><b>Frampton Cotterell is ideally situated for day trips, being only 5 miles from the M5 / M4 interchange. Giving Frampton the advantage of easy access to some of the country's most beautiful scenery in almost every direction.</b> <HR> <p align="left"><u><b><font size="4" color="#00OOOO">Kelbra am Kyffhauser:</font></b></u> </center><FONT COLOR="#00OOOO"><H1 align="justify"><font size="3">Kelbra is a small Saxony town in the former East Germany.  Lying in a valley between the Harz mountains in the north and Kyffhauser hills to the south.</font></b><font size="3"> </font></h1> <H1 align="justify"><font size="3">The area is very picturesque and is a favored tourist spot for Germans. The town has many monuments, historical sights and attractions within its locality, which is unusual for a town of this size in Germany.  Beside the town is a large lake offering most water sport activities, lake side camp sites, restaurants and an open air theatre for the less energetic. The open air theatre holds many plays and concerts featuring top international stars. The Harz mountains and local area is excellent for sight seeing, walking / biking.   </font></h1> <p align="justify"><b>Kyffhauser castle overlooking the town is one of the most famous castles in Germany, built in the 10<sup>th</sup></b></font> <b>Century it is the legendary resting place of The Holy Roman Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa, who sleeps in the mountain under a spell and will one day reawaken. </b> <FONT COLOR="#00OOOO"><b> </b> </font> <p align="justify"><FONT COLOR="#00OOOO"><b>About 8 km from Kelbra is the town of Tilda, this used to be the residence of the kings of Saxony. The settlement has been restored to give an idea of what daily life in the Iron age might have been like.  </b></font> <HR> </BODY>