Twinning Visit to Ormesson, May 2026
The longstanding friendship of Northallerton and Ormesson-sur-Marne, a small town to the southeast of Paris, was further strengthened recently by a group visiting France to celebrate the twinning relationship between the two towns.
The group of seventeen were hosted by French families over the weekend. During this time they went sight-seeing in and around Paris and attended an official dinner with the Mayor of Ormesson at their local golf club. They were also treated to a guided tour of the famous Royaumont Abbey, a 13th century Cistercian abbey north of the city, and lunch in a local village restaurant followed by a musical concert in the abbey’s atmospheric refectory.
The visitors encountered exceptional weather over the weekend and this was taken advantage of by the Mayor of Ormesson hosting the official dinner under the shade of trees at the golf clubhouse.
Councillor Mike Holmes, a long-standing participant in twinning activities, commented, “As always it was a great experience. Our hosts were warm and generous and it was a pleasure to continue the links between the members of our communities living in and around the two towns”.
The towns were first twinned in 1993 in a ceremony between the two town councils and members of the public. Annual visits of citizens – groups, families and individuals - have taken place since then, alternating each year between the two towns.
If you are interested in the twinning relationship and would like to find out more please contact Northallerton Town Hall on 01609 776718 to register your interest.
The Mayor of Ormesson hosts the official visit dinner
Royaumont Abbey
Background
The town twinning initiated by Northallerton Town Council and that of Ormesson-sur-Marne (France). The twinning association is named BON (Bienvenue Ormesson Northallerton).
After an initial visit, in March 1992, by representatives and citizens of Ormesson to explore the possibility of twinning there was a reciprocal visit by Northallerton Town Council representatives and citizens of Northallerton and the surrounding area in September 1993 to begin the official town twinning. The official twinning agreement was signed on 18th September 1993 in Ormesson by the Mayors of both towns.
The Northallerton-Ormesson-sur-Marne Twinning Agreement
Ormesson-sure Marne
Ormesson-sur-Marne is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, in the department of Val-de-Marne. It has a population of around 11,000 and is located 16 km (10 miles) from the centre of Paris.
Ormesson is well-known for its chateau, the Chateau d’Ormesson.
The Chateau d’Ormesson
Town Twinning Visits
Visits between the two towns began in 1994 with a young persons reciprocal visit and have taken place in most years since then. Safeguarding restrictions have become more rigorous in recent years and young persons exchanges have not taken place for several years, but groups of citizens (families and individuals) still regularly travel between the two towns. It is hoped that these visits will continue, that more people will become involved in the future, and that in future activities may be expanded to reciprocal visits of civic, social or sporting organisations.
Visiting Ormesson sur Marne
Citizens from Northallerton travel to Ormesson every two years, paying the cost of travel themselves, and are hosted there by French families. Participants from Northallerton usually visit Ormesson for 3 days around the end of May. Some time is spent as a group on a visit to a place of interest and some time with French family hosts. Many of the group have visited several times and some include the visit as part of a longer break in France, therefore travel is organised individually, but most arrange to be on the same Eurostar train and are met by French hosts on arrival in France. There have been other visits over the years by groups from local Northallerton organisations to Ormesson.
Town Twinning Visits
Visits between the two towns began in 1994 with a young persons reciprocal visit and have taken place in most years since then. Safeguarding restrictions have become more rigorous in recent years and young persons exchanges have not taken place for several years, but groups of citizens (families and individuals) still regularly travel between the two towns. It is hoped that these visits will continue, that more people will become involved in the future, and that in future activities may be expanded to reciprocal visits of civic, social or sporting organisations.
Visiting Ormesson sur Marne
Citizens from Northallerton travel to Ormesson every two years, paying the cost of travel themselves, and are hosted there by French families. Participants from Northallerton usually visit Ormesson for 3 days around the end of May. Some time is spent as a group on a visit to a place of interest and some time with French family hosts. Many of the group have visited several times and some include the visit as part of a longer break in France, therefore travel is organised individually, but most arrange to be on the same Eurostar train and are met by French hosts on arrival in France. There have been other visits over the years by groups from local Northallerton organisations to Ormesson.
Want to join a visit to Ormesson or host French guests?
Northallerton Town Council and BON are always keen to encourage the involvement of new people from Northallerton, or clubs and societies, to join in these visits. If you are interested and would like to find out more please contact Northallerton Town Hall on 01609 776718 to register your interest.