Radebeul – A delegation from St. Ingbert visited the Saxon city of Radebeul in recent days to properly celebrate the 35th anniversary of the town twinning. In June, representatives from Saxony were guests in St. Ingbert. The festive activities and the warm exchange between the two cities served as an impressive proof of their close and grown friendship and the successful cooperation over the past decades.
Mayor Bert Wendsche (left) and Deputy Albrecht Hauck plant a Douglas fir in the Karl-May-Hain as a symbol of friendship. - © Ute Leder
A highlight of the visit was undoubtedly the symbolic tree planting in the Karl-May-Hain in Radebeul. Mayor Bert Wendsche and the Deputy for City Partnerships, Albrecht Hauck, together planted a Douglas fir as a sign of the enduring friendship between Radebeul and St. Ingbert. The Douglas fir will not only beautify the grove but also preserve the memory of this special anniversary.
As part of a ceremony, Deputy Mayor Albrecht Hauck, City Council member Thomas Magenreuter, District Mayor Irene Kaiser, and the Chairman of the Town Twinning Committee, Peter Gaschott, presented the anniversary gift to Mayor Bert Wendsche: a miner’s traffic light, which can also be found at intersections in St. Ingbert, and a Karl May traffic light. These two traffic lights serve not only as traffic signals but as symbols of the cultural connection between the cities. Deputy Mayor Albrecht Hauck: “35 years of town twinning between Radebeul and St. Ingbert, we considered what special gift we could present. Since in St. Ingbert we commemorate our history with miner’s traffic lights, we thought that with these traffic lights and the Karl May traffic lights in Radebeul, we could keep the friendship alive in everyday life. Just as the traffic lights always switch from green to red to green, they symbolize our lively town partnership.”
The delegation from St. Ingbert also visited the renowned company König & Bauer, formerly Planeta. It was at this location that, exactly 35 years ago, the town twinning was established due to economic relations with the St. Ingbert company Haaf.
Another highlight of the visit was the delegation's entry in the golden book of the city of Radebeul. This symbolic act underscores the importance of the town twinning and the mutual appreciation.
The delegation from St. Ingbert had the opportunity to visit the municipal winery Hoflößnitz and the Velocium in Weinböhla. The program also included visits to the municipal Lößnitzgymnasium as well as the new building “Schillerhort.”
Throughout the entire stay, numerous conversations and exchange activities took place between representatives of the city administration, the fire department, the Rotary Club, association representatives, and members of the city council. These encounters helped to deepen existing bonds and develop new perspectives for the future of the town twinning.
Radebeul's Mayor Bert Wendsche: "35 years of a vibrant town partnership between St. Ingbert and Radebeul demonstrate that German-German town partnerships are important for internal German understanding and cooperation. Not only can the administrations exchange ideas and learn about solutions, but also the residents, exemplified by the annual citizen trips. The aim is to extend the partnership beyond the traditional fire department area to encompass the wider community life of both towns."
The celebrations in the 35th anniversary year of the town twinning between Radebeul and St. Ingbert were a complete success and left lasting impressions on all involved.
The chairman of the town twinning committee, Peter Gaschott, evaluates the visit: "Anyone who, like me, has not been to Radebeul for a while can perceive in fast motion how dynamic and yet sensitively preserving the living environments in our partner city are managed. What I like is the incredible abundance of sights and the magnificent cultural landscape in the Elbe Valley. And finally, it is the people who, with their warmth and openness, show that politically motivated town partnerships can develop into human, very personal friendships."
In the coming weeks, the gift from Radebeul, the fountain "The Lovers," will be installed in the swamp. Next year, a citizen trip to Radebeul will take place for all residents. In addition, the Rotarians and the fire department will strengthen the partnership through mutual visits.
About the town twinning:
The town twinning between Radebeul in Saxony and St. Ingbert has existed since 1988. Over the years, it has developed into a close friendship and fruitful cooperation in the areas of administration, politics, culture, economy, and education. The partnership has already produced numerous successful projects and contributes to strengthening cooperation within Germany. The department for town twinnings in the Office of Communication and Associations is responsible for organizing trips and maintaining contact with the partner towns.
