Bridgend – Langenau (South Germany)
since April 1971
Langenau is a small town in the beautiful rural area of the rolling Swabian hills, 10 miles from the city of Ulm in Southern Germany. Our hosts live within easy reach of Munich, the Black Forest, Austria and Switzerland and in an area where the climate is very cold in winter and with hot summers. Spring and Autumn are much shorter seasons than here in Wales. The regional airport is at Stuttgart, which is the state capital of Baden-Wurttemberg.
Bridgend – Villenave d’Ornon (South West France)
since February 1994
Villenave d’Ornon is a small town which enjoys a very pleasant climate on the outskirts of Bordeaux, the famous wine-growing area in Aquitaine. Within an hour’s drive are the well-known and very pretty towns of St Emilion, the seaside town of Arcachon, renowned for its oysters, and the highest sand-dunes in Europe, la Dune du Pilat.
As Rugby is popular in this area of France, visits have often been made to coincide with Internationals, and over the years very many young people from our comprehensive schools have been able to enrich their understanding of French language, life and culture through the exchange programme. Since 2013 Chorale du Lac (Villenave) and Tabernacle Music Society Choir (Bridgend) have exchanged visits.
Bridgend – Hechtel Eksel (Belgium)
since 2011
At the end of World War II in June 1944 Hechtel Eksel was liberated by the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Welsh Guards. Since then the Welsh Guards, who have Battle Honours for this liberation on their Colours, hold an annual commemoration of the liberation in Hechtel Eksel. This takes the form of an annual parade and service in their Cathedral.
The sons and daughters of those who were in the original conflict are now continuing the commemoration and asked if Bridgend would be interested in having a closer relationship with the people of this pretty, small Belgian town. A Friendship Link has been established and delegates from Belgium and from Bridgend have enjoyed visits to each others’ homes.