Collingham and District Twinning Association

Collingham is twinned with the French town of Villeneuve-sur-Yvonne which is situated about 70 miles south of Paris on the banks of the river Yonne. The town was founded on the south side of the river in 1163 by King Louis VII in order to strengthen his position against possible attack from the nearby Champagne area.
Between the 16th and 19th centuries the prosperity of Villeneuve benefited from its location by the river and its surrounding forests and vineyards, Its harbour was used to store and transport wood and coal to Paris and its own wine trade also bought additional wealth to the town. As a result of the many trading actvities, rich traders built many elegant houses in the town centre. The old town centre is today encircled by footpaths which trace the path of the original medieval walls which surrounded the town. There are many houses in the town dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
Today the town has a population of about 5,400 and has an industrial estate on the left bank of the Yonne employing some 800 people and offering many new opportunities for local businesses.
There is an excellent rail-link to Paris with a journey time of about 45 minutes. Villeneuve-sur-Yonne offers an ideal base from which to explore the famous Burgundy region with its many architectural and gastronomic pleasures.

Website address: http://www.villeneuve-yonne.fr

The Collingham and District Twinning Association can be contacted via Tony Yates 01636 707878; e mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
New members are always welcome

One of Villeneuves famous gates. The Porte de Sens.
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