Lostwithiel Twinning Association
Did you know Lostwithiel is twinned with Pleyber Christ, a small town just south of Morlaix in Brittany, France? There are around 30 towns in Cornwall twinned with a town in Brittany, and we are one of the biggest and most active groups. Please read on to find out more about us and how you can get involved.
What's happening
Why twinning?
Help us to build friendships, promote understanding and encourage cooperation through the town's close and longstanding association with our Breton neighbours.
This year, we are proud to be celebrating over 45 years of friendship. Our group includes members aged from 1 to over 80. There is no requirement to speak French; our aim is to participate, share culture and have fun. We hold social and fundraising events and we organise group visits to each others' towns once a year. If you have any questions or would like to know more about twinning, please contact us.
Longstanding Association
Lostwithiel has been twinned with the small town of Pleyber-Christ since 1979 when we first began exchanging. In 2019 we celebrated our 40th anniversary with two visits in one year but usually we host a visit in Lostwithiel one year and we go to Pleyber-Christ the next. In between visits we hold social and fundraising events to raise money and plan trips.
Fun & Friendship
Those in the twinning group have great fun; forging friendships with people from a different country is enriching and enjoyable. A real spirit of camaraderie is experienced as we take pleasure in the carefully planned entertainments and hospitality in Brittany and, likewise, offer a varied programme of outings and refreshments for our friends from Pleyber. One appealing aspect of this association is the mixed age range. Babies and children, young couples, single people and older members of the community all enjoy being together in a really convivial group.
How it Works
If twinning members choose to go on a visit to Pleyber Christ, they will stay with members of the group in Brittany. When the visit is to Lostwithiel, those from Pleyber are accommodated in the homes of our members. These trips are inexpensive and enormous fun for everyone. The association has a wide mix of ages and families with children play an important part. We fundraise as a group throughout the year to provide entertainment when the French visit us.
I Can't Speak French
The ability to speak French is not necessary to take part in our activities. Some members speak French, with varying levels of ability, but it has been known for twinners to stay with each other with virtually no knowledge of the other language... without any real problems. Some of us have taken advantage of this association to improve our conversational French, but if you have no urge to improve your language skills this is no barrier to joining - anyone who is interested will be welcome.
About our Association
We are a diverse and welcoming group with a wide mix of ages. Families with children play an important part.
We
fund raise as a group throughout the year to provide entertainment when the French visit us. Recent fundraising events have included skittles,
quizzes, horse racing, a safari supper and the screening of French films.
“The only bit I didn't like was coming home!”
“Since meeting last year we now keep in touch regularly via Facebook and email."
“Table football overcomes any language barrier!”
Pleyber-Christ
Pleyber-Christ is a commune in the Finistère department
of Brittany in north-western France. It is on the border of Léon and Trégor and is located:
- at the gateway to Armorica Park
- at the foot of the Monts d'Arrée
- 15 minutes from the sea
- on the strategic axis Lorient / Roscoff
- 10 kilometers from the center of Morlaix
What's Happening
Lostwithiel Twinning Ceilidh
Come and dance the night away at the Lostwithiel Twinning Association Ceilidh! Music and dancing with calling from Catseye Morris
- Saturday 1st March 2025
- Lostwithiel Community Centre, Lostwithiel, PL22 OHE
- Doors open 7.00pm, dance workshop 7.30pm, dancing from 8.00pm
- Adults £10, under 18s £5, under 5s free
- Tickets at Watt's Trading, Lostwithiel and Eventbrite
Boules on the Parade
Our Boulodrome on the Parade in Lostwithiel is available for everyone to use. If you don’t have your own boules, then join us at our regular sessions on Sundays from 10am - 12 noon. There are usually members playing and we will be happy to explain the rules or answer any questions about twinning.
Thur 18th to Sat 20th May 2023
French twinners welcomed in Lostwithiel, May 2023
May 2023 was Lostwithiel’s turn to host visitors from its twinned French town, Pleyber-Christ. We met at Plymouth ferry port one Thursday evening to pick up our guests and in the following two days we enjoyed time together and showed them as much as w e could of this lovely bit of Cornwall. We visited Lostwithiel Schoo l, organised a bring-and-share lunch, played bowls, walked around Restormel Castle, attended a drinks reception kindly hosted by our Mayor, had a delicious Thai-Curry dinner, did some Morris dancing, had a disco, and went on a beautiful train trip to Looe for shopping and a dip in the sea. By the time we returned to Plymouth to bid our guests farewell, we’d had a busy and thoroughly enjoyable time.
May 2024
Twinning Visit to Pleyber Christ, May 2024
Lostwithiel Twinners went over to Pleyber-Christ for the early May bank holiday weekend. We visited a new cultural centre housed in a beautifully restored old tobacco factory in Morlaix, visited the local fete, had a picnic in Pleyber-Christ's 'Parc de Lostwithiel', had a tour in vintage French cars, enjoyed a big couscous meal and danced at the disco in the salle de fetes - all ages on the dancefloor!
