2026

EXETER TWINNING CIRCLE SIGNS PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH BRITTANY FERRIES

As of January 2026 members will benefit from the following discounts:

10% discount for your members’ family trips, outside of the exchanges organised by the Twinning Committee, with their vehicle or on foot (Excluding on board accommodation).

5% discount on the public rate for the Twinning Committee’s foot passenger trips (from 10 or more people, excluding on board accommodation).

10% discount on the public group rate for the Twinning Committee’s trips by coach. (Excluding on board accommodation).

For information on how to access the discount for members’ family trips please contact the secretary.

Herewith link to original notice of 

 ETC/Brittany Ferries partnership: Website notice  

Rennes – Exeter Anniversary Art Project

2026 is the 70th anniversary of the twinning agreement between the cities of Exeter and Rennes in France.  As part of the celebration of this long relationship the City of Rennes has gained the support of the British Embassy in France for a community arts project involving artists from Exeter working together with art organisations in Rennes.

Two artists from Exeter – Lynda Powney and Vanessa Cecil, both members of CROW (Creative Older Women) in Exeter – have been commissioned by Rennes’ International and European Department to spend time in the city in February working with the French artists involved.  The artists in Rennes come from two art groups in that city – ‘La Loupiote’ and the ‘Collectif Quartier en Couleur’.   

During their visit to Rennes the artists will be involved with creative workshops with young people form the community around Rennes’ Rue d’Exeter.  They will be creating and sharing images of life in Exeter and life in Rennes, ultimately resulting in a panel depicting this to be installed in the Rue d’Exeter. In addition there will be a published report of the project, reflecting the workshops and some of the images created, which will be published in French and in English for use in both cities.

In May members of Exeter Twinning Circle will be visiting Rennes, and will be able to see the early fruits of this project.  Members of the Rennes twinning association will be making a return visit to Exeter in September.   Exeter Twinning Circle hopes that there will be a renewal of the agreement between the two cities, restating both cities’ commitment to the promotion of understanding, respect and friendship first established in 1956.

9 January 2026

For further information please contact Graham Morris, Exeter Twinning Circle (Rennes) ETC.Rennes@icloud.com

Exeter-Rennes Press Release:

Ever wondered what it’s like in Exeter’s sister city in France?

 Way back in 1955 Exeter signed an official accord with the city of Rennes, capital of Brittany in France.   The cities became twinned, and have maintained close links ever since.  Ten years later the city of Bad Homburg in Germany formed a similar agreement with Exeter, and more recently Terracina inn Italy has been added to our family of ‘sister’ cities.

Exeter Twinning Circle was established to maintain the social and cultural links with our twins, and 2026 will be the 70^th anniversary of our links with Rennes.  The twinning circles in both cities are busy planning a year of celebration, with events to mark the special nature of our relationship.  Already plans have been laid for a visit from Exeter to Rennes next May, and a return visit from our friends in Rennes to our city next September.

If you would like to find out more about Rennes, to meet some of the French people who live there, or just to take part in the events when the Rennais come to Devon, then please get in touch with the Exeter Twinning Circle.

The party from Exeter plan to travel to Rennes via the overnight ferry from Plymouth to Roscoff departing Tuesday 26^th May 2026.  We will return on Sunday 31^st May.  The twinning circle would welcome new members, and invite any who are interested to join us for this visit.  Accommodation in Rennes is usually provided by French families, where we try to match the ages and interests of participants.  It is expected that participants reciprocate with accommodation if possible when the Rennais twinners come to Exeter.  The principal expense for participants is basically the cost of travel, which is expected to be around £350 per couple (with a cabin on the overnight crossing) or around £250 for a solo traveller. 

Rennes is a fascinating city, with a great deal of medieval history and a delightful historic quarter.  It has also developed good modern facilities and architecture, and has many interesting sights and places to visit.  If you are interested in joining us, please get in touch.  If you wish to express an interest in joining the visit to Rennes in May please let us know as soon as possible.

In the first instance, please contact our secretary  by emailing secretary@exetertwinningcircle.org.uk or visit our website https://exetertwinningcircle.org.uk .  We can also be found on Facebook

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NEW YEAR PARTY

Friday 16th January 2026 7pm-9.30pm

StLuke’s Church Hall

1 Countess Wear Road EX2 4NX

Please see ‘Events’ for details

2025

BAD HOMBURG VISIT 2025 – 60th ANNIVERSARY –

29th APRIL – 5th MAY 2025 PROGRAMME

TUESDAY 29TH APRIL

Bad Homburg Visitors expected to arrive in Exeter about lunchtime.

18.00 Welcome Supper at Beryl’s for hosts and all guests from Bad Homburg.  Free parking on the road.

WEDNESDAY 30 APRIL

11.00 Lord Mayors Reception with Mayor Alexander Hertjes, Mayor of Bad Homburg, Herr Ralf Gehrsitz (Head of Bad Homburg Central Administration) Phil  Bialyk and the Bad Homburg Twinners.  All guests, hosts, and ETC members welcome.

12.00 Guided walk around Northernhay Gardens Exeter, (one of the  oldest public gardens in England still used, dating from the 1600s,   led by Jane.

15.30 Presentation by Professor Ulrike Zitzlsperger, Associate Professor of German, Queens Building, Queens Drive, Exeter University EX4 4QH

16.15 FREE rest of day and evening with hosts.

THURSDAY 1ST MAY

Teignmouth and Shaldon – guided walk and ferry -scenic coastline

FRIDAY 2nd May

FREE day with hosts

18.30 Dinner and Reception at Mercure Exeter Rougemont Hotel, EX4 3SP

SATURDAY 3rd MAY

9.00  Coach visit to North Devon.  

SUNDAY 4th MAY

11.15 MEET: EXMOUTH – OPEN TOP BUS from Exmouth to Sandy Bay

VARIOUS CHOICES.

MONDAY 5TH MAY

BAD HOMBURG VISITORS DEPART EXETER

For further information: phone Paul 07962019679  or Beryl 07971108846

or email: secretary@exetertwinningcircle.org.uk

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AGM 2025

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND LUNCH to be held on

FRIDAY 14th MARCH 2025 at 12 NOON

 Please find links below:

  ETC Website_Agenda AGM 2025 (1)

ETC Website_ DEVON HOTEL_Lunch_Parking

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Please click on the link to see the poster for the New Year Party on the 11th January:

                                                                                                                 New year Party 2025 (1)

2024

August 2024 Newsletter

Please click here to see the August 2024 Newsletter