Glossop Twinning Association enjoys annual exchange visit

Glossop and Bad Vilbel have been twin towns since 1987.

The Glossop and Bad Vilbel Twinning Association organises annual exchange visits between the two communities, helping to strengthen the friendships between individuals, families and community groups in both towns. 

The association aims to promote cultural, recreational, educational and commercial links, with twinning providing an opportunity to look beyond our own community and gain a greater understanding of different traditions, cultures and ways of life. 

The association hopes to encourage more people in Glossop to discover its German twin town and experience the friendship between the two communities for themselves. 

In August 2026, members of the association visited Bad Vilbel. Here is their account of the trip, written by the group: 

“The members of the Glossop/Bad Vilbel Twinning Association met once again in August for the annual twinning weekend; another opportunity to strengthen the bonds of our partnership. This time it was the turn of the Glossop group to visit Bad Vilbel to re-kindle long-standing friendships and cultivate new contacts. 

For some it was their first opportunity to visit our twin town, including for the Mayor of High Peak, Barbara Hastings-Asatourian and her husband. After the visit Barbara said, “We are both so full of gratitude for everything everyone has done for us, how much we have experienced and learned.  We will never forget all of your patience and kindnesses.” 

As always, the visit started with the traditional ‘Welcome Reception’, where the Mayor of Bad Vilbel, Sebastian Wysocki and the Chair of the German Twinning Association, Jochen Wilbert, gave the group a very warm welcome – just as warm as the weather outside at a balmy 38C!!  In response, the new Chair of the Glossop group, Joanne Greenhalgh, offered thanks, in German, on behalf of the British visitors. 

Friday took the group on a full day trip to Wetzlar, a lovely medieval town about an hour’s journey from Bad Vilbel, with pretty half-timbered houses, an interesting cathedral, which is shared between the Catholic and Protestant congregations of the town and attractive vistas along the beautiful River Lahn.  

We followed in the footsteps of Germany’s most famous poet and author, Goethe, who studied law in Wetzlar, on a guided tour of the town. Goethe’s unrequited love affair with a local girl, Lotte, and the tragic life of one of his colleagues, Karl Wilhelm Jerusalem, formed the basis of his famous work ‘The Sorrows of Young Werther’, the book which launched his literary career. 

We visited the ‘Lottehaus’ and the ‘Jerusalemhaus’ to learn how these characters lived and interacted with the great poet, followed by lunch in a traditional beer garden by the river.  

Saturday was reserved for personal visits between the Brits and their German hosts.  Some of the destinations selected were Bad Homburg, Kronberg, Bingen, the Rhein Valley with a wine tasting experience, a boat trip on the River Main and the historic city of Mainz.  

The culmination of our programme on Saturday was the traditional ‘Social Evening’ when we enjoyed a delicious three course meal at the elegant City Hotel in Bad Vilbel.  Entertainment was provided by a talented violinist, Klaus Hastermann, who impressed us with his varied repertoire, including famous classical pieces as well as a selection of Scottish and Irish folk songs.  

Sunday is also traditionally an opportunity for guests to spend time with their hosts. To cool down in the hot weather, Bad Vilbel’s open air swimming pool was a popular destination.  

All too soon it was time to say our goodbyes for another year and wish all our German friends well.   

The date for next year’s visit is already set (Thursday 29th July to Monday 2nd August 2027), as it is a very special year for our partnership. 2027 is the 40th anniversary of our twinning association and we are excited about hosting our friends in Glossop next year.” 

To find out more, contact the group at: glossoptwinningassociation@gmail.com, visit their Facebook page (Glossop Town Twinning) or follow them on Instagram: Glossop_town_twinning