Wittichenau blooms: children experience unforgettable days in Bad Honnef!

Wittichenau blooms: children experience unforgettable days in Bad Honnef!

Wittichenau, Deutschland - This day an exciting connection between Wittichenau and Bad Honnef is blooming, which not only does high waves, but is also deeply rooted in history. A delegation from Wittichenau recently visited Bad Honnef to celebrate the 30-year town twinning. The group, consisting of six lively children between the ages of 11 and 13 and three dedicated supervisors, spent five varied days that were filled with various activities.

from a city rally, in which the children answered exciting quiz questions about Bad Honnef, to boxing training units at ATV Selhof, the program did not give up boredom. A highlight was certainly the trip to the Drachenfels and the Rolandseck zoo. A visit to the outdoor pool on the island of Grafenwerth also caused a refreshing cooling after a hot summer day, while a night hike opened new perspectives on life in the city and the surrounding nature. Mayor Otto Neuhoff welcomed the group in the town hall and presented drinking bottles and wild seeds as a small memory of the stay.

a strong partnership

The city partnership between Bad Honnef and Wittichenau has existed since 1990 and has contributed a lot to international understanding since then. The partnership agreement was ceremoniously signed in Bad Honnef in 1990 and in 1991 in Wittichenau. A significant event in the history of this partnership is November 9, 1989, when Werner Osterbrink, the former mayor of Wittichenau, experienced the fall of the wall and at the same time the idea for the city twinning came about. Osterbrink was mayor from 1983 to 1990 and was appointed honorary citizen in 1995. Tragically, he recently died on June 19, 2025, shortly after his 90th birthday.

Wittichenau not only follows the exchange with Bad Honnef, but also maintains partnerships with Tanvald in the Czech Republic and Lubomierz in Poland. These connections are part of a higher-level movement, which is known as a city twinning and according to the Federal Center for Political Education after the Second World War, to heal the wounds through the world wars in Europe. Cities partnerships enable the exchange between citizens and thus promote understanding and cooperation across national borders. There are now 5497 such partnerships in Germany and the number continues to grow, which shows how important these initiatives are for European integration.

shape the future together

The large number of activities organized as part of these partnerships range from friendly encounters to multinational youth camps to workshops and exchange programs. In view of the changing conditions of travel, which are characterized by globalization and lower flight prices, it is important to find new ways of cooperation in order to preserve the altruistic spirit of the city twinning.

Wittichenau and Bad Honnef show how to bridge bridges through friendship and joint experiences - a model that is not only important for municipalities, but also for all of Europe. The next chapter of this cooperation remains to be seen!