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CHARLOTTESVILLE SISTER CITY: 
BESANÇON, FRANCE

Due to cultural, historic and even geographical similarities, the sister cities of Besançon and Charlottesville are alike in several ways.

A sister city agreement between both cities was signed on October 20th, 2006. However, exchanges between the two cities have been taking place for a quarter of a century. 

Besançon and Charlottesville exchange students have been welcomed in their respective cities by organizations and host families. A delegation of L'Alliance Française of Charlottesville visited Besançon to meet city officials. The mayor of Besançon, Jean-Louis Fousseret has visited Charlottesville several times to assist cultural events.   

For more information on the Sister City program, click here.

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BESANÇON

• Population: 123 000 inhabitants 
  
• Distance to the Capital: 2.5 hours from Paris
  
• University: The University of Franche-Comté (20 000 students) 
• Town Center: Remarkable architecture and a pedestrian Main street 
  
• Town of Bibliophiles: Record number of bookshops per capita in France 
  
• Politics: Traditionally Socialist 
  
• Writers: Association of authors of the Franche-Comté region
• Cinema: Home town of the Lumière brothers
  
• Engineering: Hilaire de Chardonnet's place of birth
  
• Horticulture: Floralies Celebration 
  
• Forests: Surrounded by the forest of Chailluz 

CHARLOTTESVILLE

• Population: 120 000 inhabitants
  
• Distance to the Capital: 2.5 hours from Washington
  
• University: The University of Virginia (20 000 students) 
• Town Center: Remarkable architecture and a pedestrian Main street
  
• Town of Bibliophiles: Record number of books per capita in the United States
  
• Politics: Traditionally Democrat 
  
• Writers: Writers Club of Charlotteville
• Cinema: Home of the Virginia Film Festival
  
• Engineering: Textile Institute of Technology 
  
• Horticulture: Dogwood Festival
  
• Forests: Surrounded by the Shenandoah forest

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BESANÇON/CHARLOTTESVILLE PARTNERSHIPS

The Bacchus Theater 
The Bacchus Theater Company of Besançon gives a variety of performances in theater, dance, circus arts and music. Thanks to the partnership between the cities, the Company was able to pay  a visit to Charlottesville in November of 2012. Its members participated in a workshop with French and Theater students, at Old Cabell Hall, Live Arts, Four Country Players Theater, and James Madison University. 

Everyone had a part in the Bacchus Theater Tour performances!  

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Student Internships

Another great example of the cultural exchange between the two sister cities is the possibility for students to complete their education in the United States or in France. 

This summer, Besançon inhabitants Nam Tran and Héloïse Perrin are currently working as interns at the Alliance Française de Charlottesville. 

Here is their story in their own words: "We were looking for an international professional experience to support our diploma in Foreign Languages. People from Besançon and Charlottesville helped us find this internship and we've been living the American dream this summer!"