Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission

10/13/2026

Introducing your new Sister-Cities commission officers and committee representatives for 2026-2027.
We are seeking additional community members for each sister city and committees.
Comment YES here, and we will be in touch!

09/23/2026

Final photos « des Américains en France »

09/22/2026

Members of the Charlottesville delegation to our sister city of Besançon have all safely returned home and reported a jam packed week of activities to honor the 20th anniversary of our Jumelage.

09/18/2026

The Charlottesville delegation visited the Saline Royal.

The Saline Royale d'Arc-et-Senans is a breathtaking 18th-century royal saltworks and architectural masterpiece built in the shape of a semi-circle.History and ArchitectureEnlightenment Vision: Commissioned by King Louis XV and built between 1775 and 1779, the complex was designed by visionary architect Claude-Nicolas Ledoux.Industrial Utopia: Ledoux conceived the saltworks as an "ideal city," featuring a rational, hierarchical layout meant to house workers and production facilities together in harmony.UNESCO Recognition: After closing as an industrial site in 1895 and falling into disrepair, the complex was meticulously restored and named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.

09/17/2026

Besançon : Our city representative, Elizabeth Smiley, has organized a delegation led by Mayor Wade to Besançon, France this week. Thirteen local area residents, traveling at their own expense, including Councilor Snook, accompanied Mayor Wade. In Besançon, they were welcomed by Mayor Ludovic Fagaut and Florent Werguet, the international affairs manager.

The cities are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their twinning in 2006.

Edward Herring

09/14/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18w5USkBgG/?mibextid=wwXIfr

We're taking another group from Charlottesville to Ghana next May and would love to have you join us. Please help spread the word!

08/05/2026

08/05/2026

Cher Stewart represented the Charlottesville Sister-Cities at the 70th Anniversary Celebration of Sister Cities International in Washington DC July 22-25th. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet board members from all over the country, see what kind of exciting projects they are doing and to meet some special guests including the Vice President of Ghana, ambassadors from Panama and Japan, embassy representatives from Poland and Nigeria and representatives from the U.S. State Department.
The Charlottesville Sister-Cities commission has sister cities in Besançon, France, Poggio, Italy, Winneba, Ghana and Huehuetenango, Guetamala. We are currently seeking community volunteers for each sister city that we have.
Please email [email protected] with your contact information, which country you would like to volunteer with and any expertise that you can share with us. Volunteering can be a few times a year or more, depending on your interest and availability.
Thanks very much!

07/23/2026

Greetings from the Sister Cities International 70th Anniversary Celebration at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Washington DC. I’m meeting lots of other board members and commissioners from across the country and learning lots!💗

07/08/2026

Farewell dinner for our Sister City Visitors from Huehuetenango.