Twin town since 1966
Saint-Péray: where wine and friendship mature
Our oldest twinning, alive for sixty years – in the French Rhône valley.
Our oldest and probably closest twinning takes us to the Rhône valley: since 1966, a deep-rooted friendship has linked our twin town Saint-Péray in the French Ardèche with Groß-Umstadt. What began with a letter from Saint-Péray still carries the motto “Where wine and friendship mature” today.
Saint-Péray lies on the right bank of the Rhône, just a few kilometres west of Valence – around 750 kilometres from Groß-Umstadt by car. After sixty years of twinning, that distance stopped mattering to us long ago.
How the friendship with Saint-Péray began
“A stone towards building a united Europe.”
Ludwig Wedel, Mayor of Groß-Umstadt, 1966
A European network
Groß-Umstadt
Germany
Twin town since 1966
Santo Tirso
Portugal
Twin town of Saint-Péray & Groß-Umstadt
Asso
Italy
Twin town since 2001
Between the Rhône and the Massif Central
Saint-Péray sits on the eastern edge of the Massif Central, where the Rhône valley opens out, and is largely sheltered from the cold mistral. The small town is shaped by southern French charm and the easy-going pace typical of the Ardèche.
5 km to Cornas · Rhône valley · sheltered from the mistral
The ruins of Château de Crussol and more
Our tips for Saint-Péray and the surrounding area – open a card for all the details.
The Saint-Péray appellation
The appellation gained AOC status as early as 1936 and produces only white wines from the Marsanne and Roussanne grapes. Ever since a cellar master from Champagne showed the local winemakers the method in 1825, it has also had its own sparkling wine tradition, which began in 1829 with the first bottles uncorked.
AOC since 1936
Admirers of the wine include the writer Alphonse de Lamartine, Alphonse Daudet, Richard Wagner – and Tsar Alexander II.
Historical tradition of the Saint-Péray appellation
Getting there & best time to visit
Groß-Umstadt ······· Saint-Péray
Explore Saint-Péray before you arrive
Sights, food & drink, shopping, accommodation and everything practical – use the filters to find day trips in the surrounding area too.
60 years of heart and vine
The twinning is organised by our Saint-Péray section, with a special focus on youth exchange. In 2026 we are celebrating the anniversary with a meeting in May and a return visit at the Umstadt Winegrowers’ Festival.
May meeting: 14–18 May 2026
Experience twinning in our twin towns
News from the twinning
Frequently asked questions
Be part of this friendship
If the ruins of Crussol, the wine of the Ardèche or sixty years of Franco-German friendship have caught your interest: discover Santo Tirso and Dicomano too – or become a member and join us on the next trip.
