On Saturday morning, the wedding hall of Pézenas Town Hall was packed to welcome the delegation from Bellreguard. Following official speeches, Alejandro Ruiz Gadea, Mayor of Bellreguard, and Armand Rivière, Mayor of Pézenas, jointly read the twinning act in French and Valencian before signing the charter. Nicole Vicente, President of the ALEGRIA association, who had patiently forged the links between the two towns since autumn 2023, was present as a witness.
The Mayor of Pézenas recalled the historical connections linking the two shores, particularly through the migration of agricultural workers, Republicans fleeing Francoism, and European mobility initiatives. He also paid tribute to Spanish resistance and expressed solidarity with the Valencian people affected by recent floods and the railway tragedy. "These multiple migrations have built families on our lands and demonstrate, if ever needed, that the other is not a danger as long as one is willing to learn to know them and mutual respect is born," emphasized Armand Rivière.
This twinning is based on common strengths such as associations, culture, traditions, heritage, and languages. The charter, unanimously adopted by the Municipal Council, opens cooperation to education, school exchanges, sports, tourism, crafts, ecological transition, and European citizenship. An action program will be defined annually with Bellreguard.
The mayors of previous twin cities, Thomas Amann and Christine Personnaz (Pézenas-Tamm and Pézenas-Market Drayton), read congratulatory messages. Martin Bernhard, Mayor of Tamm, saw this twinning as "living proof that Pézenas is building a bridge between Northern Europe and the Mediterranean," while Tim Manton, Mayor of Market Drayton, extended his warmest congratulations.
To conclude the morning, the City of Pézenas offered its twin a glazed foal, created by artisan Marie-Pierre Bonniol. The 'danse du chevalet' then resonated musically in the main courtyard, in front of the Confrérie du Petit Pâté and local associations, before the morning ended with a reception and a buffet in Spanish colors, prepared by the municipal restaurant. "Dear friends from Bellreguard, let us weave links and show others that it is possible. Dear friends from Bellreguard, you are home here!" concluded Armand Rivière.
