Twinning visits to France take place every second year and we welcome our French guests in alternate years.
French visits to us. Last visit – August 2024
We start with a reception on the first evening so that hosts and guests can get to know one another; some are old friends and some are new to the group. Activities during our guests’ stay include several group outings and events. In 2024 we visited Somerleyton Gardens followed by a wonderful trip to the Yarmouth Hippodrome. We had a day at Sea Palling beach alongside a picnic, a sandcastle building competition and fun group games, including the annual competition for the Allard Shield. We also organised a guided (and translated) tour around Norwich. As usual we had a wonderful catered evening dinner with a band and dancing, and one day was set aside to spend with hosts. Several host groups often get together on this day for another visit or a relaxed garden based BBQ. The Twinning Association has to be self-supporting so that we can entertain our French guests and make their visit memorable, so we have fund-raising social activities during the year ( see last paragraph)
Visits to France. Next visit: 9th-15th August 2025
We usually arrange group travel to France, in recent years by coach, when we have also included a night en route to visit a famous attraction, such as Monet’s Gardens at Giverny, the chateau at Fontainebleau or the cathedral in Chartres. The coach driver stays with the group throughout the visit.
In 2025, we will visit Rouen. The coach cost is usually very reasonable and we have fun as a group altogether, whilst travelling. Some members make their own way and spend more time in France with their hosts or elsewhere in France. During our four full day French visit, three days are usually pre-arranged as group days. There’s often a vineyard visit and a new chateau to explore (we are going to the Loire after all). And one day is also set aside to spend with hosts, who often group together to entertain us at their homes.
Note on language skills: the English and French groups are made up of people with strong, middling and also low foreign language skills. These group visits have shown that fluency levels don’t matter at all: friendship and interesting activities mean that everyone can fully participate. However the most fluent speakers can also take many opportunities to speak the other language and also help others.
Several of our members have been with the group, and the same French families, for many years. But many members have stayed with a variety of families, and hosted different visitors every year. If you are new to our group, your details will be added to our list for the forthcoming visit and after chatting it over with you, hosts will be found for you. Members often know about hosts well in advance, with time to exchange messages, photos etc.
A typical 6 day visit
Day 1: Travel (usually with an overnight stop).
Days 2 to 5: Staying at hosts’ houses.
There is usually a welcome reception on arrival where we meet our French friends, old and new! Mid-week there will be an evening group dinner … possibly with music and dancing! During the day there are organised group visits (travelling by coach or with your French hosts) . In 2023 we visited a chateau , a vineyard, a medieval castle, a theme park and the world’s only Cointreau factory. Each year is different . One day is set aside for free time with the hosts (often a a BBQ or similar shared with other families). A lot is packed into these four days
Day 6 is for travel home