3 countries, 2 weeks: the fascination of a twinning trip

An extraordinary twinning trip lies behind us, one that took us deep into the heart of European international understanding. Felix Nickel and I, Marcel Zurmöhle, set off in May 2026 to experience the living partnerships of our home town.

From the idyllic Odenwald wine island of Groß-Umstadt we set out to celebrate the historic bonds with our friends in Italy and France. This trip showed us how intensely lived friendship connects across all national borders in Europe.

Twinning trip: an atmospheric start in historic Verona

We reached our first destination after an intensive drive of a little over nine hours that had everything in store, from brilliant sunshine to violent thunderstorms. After arriving at the hotel, we set off straight away to explore the historic old town in detail and immerse ourselves in the Italian way of life. We strolled leisurely past the world-famous, impressive Arena and enjoyed the picturesque paths along the glittering Adige. The city instantly radiated that typical charm that made us forget the strain of the long journey in no time.

This first day found its perfect conclusion at the Emanuel Café, where we picked a cosy spot with a direct view of the ancient structure. Over traditional pizza and a cool beer we watched, fascinated, as the sun slowly set behind the historic rooftops. The massive monument was atmospherically lit, giving us a magical sight and the ideal start to our time together.

The following day the twinning trip took us on to our beautiful Italian partner town of Dicomano. After a relaxed two-hour drive we pitched our camp right next to the historic Pieve di Santa Maria di Castello. The local people welcomed us with incredible warmth and explained the features of the historic site in detail.

To round off this wonderful start we enjoyed juicy spare ribs and fresh grilled vegetables straight off the grill with a view over the wide hills of Tuscany.

The next morning started leisurely with scrambled eggs and fresh baguette before we headed down into the peaceful, quiet village centre. In a small café at a crossroads we treated ourselves to a first beer and promptly witnessed a loud spectacle. A good 50 classic Ferraris thundered past us as part of a rally, escorted in style by a motorised police squad. At midday we finally met up with the official delegations from Groß-Umstadt and Asso for a big shared meal.

Afterwards, at the Bar Centrale, we enjoyed the carefree Italian way of life and the fantastic company over a cool Aperol. The rest of the day was entirely devoted to traditional hospitality as a music group played local pieces for the delegations on the town hall square. In the evening we were driven up to the picturesque agriturismo Il Trebbiolo, where the owner himself served fresh, homemade pizza. With plenty of wine and cool beer there was a lot of laughter and singing together, creating an absolutely rousing atmosphere.

Saturday then marked the official, ceremonial highlight of our time in the beautiful Sieve valley. In a moving ceremony Groß-Umstadt and Dicomano solemnly renewed their twinning while an official friendship treaty with Asso was signed at the same time. Historic music and riders in magnificent costumes enchanted the audience and gave the morning a ceremonial setting, rounded off with a sunny aperitif.

After an excellent lunch at the restaurant Da Sergio we dived deep into the Etruscan history of the region. Since a guided tour was spontaneously brought forward, we visited the impressive excavation site of Frascole as early as Saturday afternoon. The Etruscan ruins were absolutely fascinating and are a warm recommendation for every culture enthusiast.

On the way back we stopped at an idyllic winery, tasted three exquisite wines and enjoyed the breathtaking view. We ended the last evening in Tuscany together with all the delegations over delicious pasta at the carnival association’s stand on the busy town hall square.

Right from the original trip planning it was clear that we wanted to use the route between our two partner towns for a restful stopover on the Mediterranean. Only the timing changed slightly, since heavy rain was forecast for Sunday in Dicomano and the official programme ended on Saturday evening.

So we dismantled our camp on Sunday morning at eight o’clock, said goodbye to Tuscany and headed straight for the French coast. After an eight-hour drive we arrived safely at our campsite in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. We protected ourselves against the voracious tiger mosquitoes, fired up the grill and went to bed early to recharge for the days ahead.

After sleeping in and a hearty breakfast we strolled on foot across the wide sandy beach straight into town. It was wonderful to stroll through the narrow alleys and soak up the lively atmosphere in the various bars. An absolute highlight was the climb to the panoramic terrace of the local fortified church, from where we had a fantastic view over the glittering sea.

After a delicious lunch of traditional paella and juicy steak we spent the afternoon relaxing on the beach and dared the leap into the fresh water. In the evening at the campsite there was classic pasta with mince sauce before we ended the day with music and rounds of cards.

The next excursion took us on Tuesday morning straight to the impressive historic fortress town of Aigues-Mortes. After a leisurely breakfast we explored the massive historic town walls and strolled through the charming alleys of the old town. We then visited the famous salt pans, marvelled at the landscape and bought some of the local fleur de sel.

We spent our last evening at the campsite thoroughly relaxed over a few beers, full of anticipation for the final big stop of our twinning trip.

After a short and pleasant drive we finally reached the stadium in our French partner town Saint-Péray. On the following Thursday, owing to the mixed weather, we first spent the day relaxed, cooking together at the sheltered campsite.

During the day the rest of the delegation from Groß-Umstadt arrived too, so we were ready on time for the first official item on the programme. From 7 pm we were received very warmly at the Bowling Bar Le Tram with a welcome drink and generous aperitif platters. We ended the lovely evening in good company with a round or two of table football and cool beers.

Friday began with a fascinating look behind the scenes at the Folioscope studios, where we marvelled at the production of the wonderful animated film Léo. After that it got sporty for some: while Ilka gave it her all on the court playing padel, I preferred to have fun at table football.

For refreshment we went to the restaurant L’imprévu opposite, where an absolutely fantastic menu awaited us with chicken thigh in poule-au-pot sauce and chocolate cake. Well fortified, we visited the interesting museum in Valence in the afternoon before ending the day with some relaxed shopping and coffee.

On Saturday morning we took an unforgettable ride on the historic steam locomotive, the Train de l’Ardèche – Mastrou, from Saint-Jean-de-Muzols. The journey through the deep gorges and wild landscape was an absolutely unique experience for all participants.

After a huge Asian buffet at the restaurant Bonheur d’Asie we visited a lovely art exhibition in a small chapel. We then promptly took over the terrace of the café San Petrus and enjoyed the cheerful get-together with the whole Groß-Umstadt crew. We ended the evening comfortably with baguette, snacks and good conversation right in front of our tents.

Sunday began in brilliant sunshine with a wonderful tour and wine tasting at the Domaine du Géant. Among the green vineyards we tasted various fine wines and enjoyed a selection of bread, sausage and cheese.

In the afternoon a joint performance by a German and a French choir was on the programme, held at the CEP owing to a last-minute change of plan. The big closing dinner at the Domaine Victoria crowned this twinning trip when, after the official speeches, we were served an excellent salmon fillet with tarragon sauce.

A photo booth provided lots of fun; we took a few more photos there on the closing evening.

Become part of a great European movement

After a drive of around eight hours we finally arrived back in Groß-Umstadt (partly) healthy, cheerful and full of unforgettable memories. The eventful twinning trip is still a little in our bones, but the countless warm encounters have enriched our lives lastingly.

On our official magazine page you can dive even deeper into the living world of our town twinnings at any time and discover more exciting reports.

Would you also like to actively help shape the spirit of international understanding and experience a real piece of Europe up close? Then become part of our community, take part in the upcoming trips and get to know the people in our partner towns in person. Just get in touch with the Twinning Committee, contribute your own ideas and become a member to actively shape the future of our international friendships!