site.btaFestival Celebrates Relationship of Three Twin Towns in Bulgaria, Germany and France

The twin towns of Lovech in Bulgaria, Laval in France and Erfurt in Germany are celebrating their relationship with a festival in this country which began on Friday. The maiden edition of Twin Towns Festival Lovech was opened by French Ambassador Joël Meyer, German Ambassador Irene Maria Plank and Lovech Mayor Stratsimir Petkov. The event showcases the culture and the spirit of the three towns.

It kicked off to the strains of music played by the Municipal Brass Band in Varosha, the historic quarter of Lovech.

Petkov said the idea about the festival dates back several years. "For the first time here in Varosha we are celebrating our friendship and the European values, highlighting the things we share and the things that make us different," the Mayor said. He believes that the partnership of twinned towns should be guarded and upgraded, particularly in times of division and war in Europe and the wider world.

Ambassador Plank said she is honoured to visit Lovech and see its landmarks. "What we do at our Embassy every day is take care of the relations between individual countries. This is also what you do by maintaining the partnership relations with your twin towns," the German diplomat said. She noted that 430,000 Bulgarians reside in Germany, but growing numbers of them are returning to their home country.

Ambassador Meyer said the three towns were twinned about 30 to 40 years ago, and the three nations have a longstanding partnership. The French Ambassador recalled that Bulgaria's first foreign language school was set up in Lovech with the assistance of a French teacher who also spoke German, and the school offered German, French and English language courses.

A delegation from Laval is in Lovech for this occasion.

Visitors to the festival can taste Bulgarian meat and dairy products and craft beer, French wine and cheese, pork rillettes, biscuits and chocolate from Mayenne Department, whose capital is Laval, and German beer, sausages and pretzels.

Austrian singer Armin Jan Hoffmann, who has won the hearts of Bulgarians with his voice, will perform popular German songs.

Visitors can buy souvenirs and a T-shirt with the festival logo printed on it. The proceeds will be used to finance the second edition of the festival next year. People also have a chance to pose for a photo wearing traditional costumes.