Besancon

Now it is official. Besancon, France has joined Pleven, Bulgaria and Poggio a Caiano, Italy as a sister city to Charlottesville.

Thanks to Louisa Dixon and former councilor Blake Caravati, Charlottesville has had ongoing exchanges with Besancon for a number of years. Numerous school groups have been exchanged, as well as gospel choirs. In 2004 Besancon sent an exhibition from their outstanding museum to the University of Virginia Art Museum, and it looks like our museum will soon send an exhibit to France.

Sister city relationships offer a great opportunity for citizens, and offer tourism and business possibilities. For our sister city relationships to flourish, there needs to be an advocate - thanks Louisa and Blake.