TRURO TWINned with
MORLAIX AND BOPPARD

Welcome to Truro's twinned towns of Morlaix in Brittany and Boppard on the Rhine. Here you will find an introduction to each town and a selection of photos to browse. For more information visit their websites or contact their tourist offices with the details provided.

Alternatively, to find out more about the twinning associations, please contact Truro Tourist Information Centre on 01872 274555 who will supply you with details of the current secretaries of both Truro-Morlaix and Truro-Boppard Twinning Associations.

Morlaix
A past of prosperity and adventure

The location of Morlaix, where the deep valleys of the Jarlot and the Queffleuth join to from the Morlaix river, has always been a favoured crossing place, easily defended.

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Archaeological discoveries in Morlaix and district, of gallo-neolithic and gallo-roman origin, bear witness to human activity in a period of distant antiquity (tumulus of Barnenez).

The rocky promontory (site of the castle), dominating the confluence of the rivers, formed a base for a Roman camp: later, toward the year 1000 A.D. it was chosen by a lord of Treguier for the building of his castle. Fishermen, artisans and merchants became established at the foot of the fortress, and thus a township grew up where the fishing trade and drying of fish developed into an established industry. It soon became neccessary to erect defensive ramparts, and the walled city was the scene of many battles. It was in the possession of the counts of Leon and was only united with the duchy of Brittany in 1277. During the Blois-Montfort civil war of the 14th century, the war between France and Brittany of the 15th century, and the League wars of the 16th century, Moralix was a battlefield.

In l522, as a reprisal for the sacking of Bristol by the corsairs of John of Coetanlem, 60 English ships entered the bay. The citizens of Morlaix were away at the fairs in Guingamp and Noyal-Ponbvy, so the aggressors ransacked the town. Having celebrated their victory to excess, many of them fell asleep in the woods at Styvel, where they were massacred by the returning men. To avoid such surprise attacks, the Taureau castle was built between 1543 and 1558 commanding the entrance to the bay.

Website

Click here to visit the Morlaix website

Boppard
On the Rhine in the Valley of the Loreley

No matter where you go in Boppard's picturesque historic quarter, you will find fascinating evidence of the town's eventful past. A replica at the Remigius place nearwhere the Mühlbach stream flows into the Rhine calls to mind the important statue find of the Celtic goddess Epona. There also used to be a Celtic village at this very same spot and in mediaeval times the Hohenstaufen and Ottonian kings would hold court here.

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The Roman fort "Bodobrica" can be marvelled at in the town's historic centre, the best preserved fortifications of late antiquity north of the Alps. Also putting its stamp on the townscape is the late-Roman St. Severus Church at the market square. In addition to the unique Christus triumphens (crucifix) and murals dating back to the 13th century, there is even significantly older testimony to Christian life to be discovered within its bowels: below the stone floor lie the baptismal font and the pulpit of Boppard's first, early Christian church, which once rose up here in the erstwhile thermal spa of the Roman fort.

The mediaeval town wall extending the Roman fort bears witness to the townsfolk's ability to defend themselves. The most beautiful part is undoubtedly the Binger Gate, not far from the "Balz", the square in the neighbourhood of the same name.

The Electoral Palace on the banks of the river is one of the most impressive edifices on the Middle Rhine. It was from here that the customs fort and stronghold of the Trier electors had command over not only the town but also over the entire Middle Rhine. Today the town museum is housed within these formidable walls and contains an impressive collection of the so-called bentwood furniture with which the Boppard cabinetmaker Michael Thonet revolutionised furniture design around the world in the 19th century.

Just as much worth visiting are the magnificent Provost's Residence in the district of Hirzenach, the unique baroque church of St. Pankratius with presbytery and working quarters in the district of Herschwiesen, and Castle Schöneck high above the Ehrbach gorge.

Website

Click here to visit the Boppard website

Contact
Tel: +49 (0)6742 3888
Email: tourist@boppard.de