Douzelage is a multi-polar European town twinning organisation with one member town from each EU country – Sherborne being the United Kingdom representative. The movement was conceived in 1989 by the Sherborne/Granville Twinning Association and received pan-European recognition with the award of a Twinning Gold Star by the European Commission in 1993. As the EU expands, so new member towns are invited to join Douzelage. At the time of printing there are 22 member towns:
Altea, Spain
Bad Kötzting, Germany
Bellagio, Italy
Bundoran, Ireland
Chojna, Poland
Granville, France
Holstebro, Denmark
Houffalize, Belgium
Judenburg, Austria
Karkkila, Finland
Köszeg, Hungary
Meerssen, Netherlands
Niederanven, Luxembourg
Oxelösund, Sweden
Preveza, Greece
Prienai, Lithuania
Sesimbra, Portugal
Sherborne, Great Britain
Sigulda, Latvia
Sušice, Czech Republic
Türi, Estonia
Zvolen, Slovakia
Douzelage fosters opportunity and friendship amongst all the people of the member towns. Cultural, educational and sporting exchanges lie at its heart, as well as potential for commercial and tourism initiatives.
See the website www.douzelage.org for fuller details.