Blackburn's three twin towns in other European countries

The concept came about after the Second World War and emerged as a way of establishing solidarity links between cities in allied countries that went through similar devastating events.

Its purpose has since been expanded to encourage trade and tourism or to reflect other links such as shared names or to create international business links.

Blackburn has three twin towns in Europe from three different countries – France, Germany, and Poland.

Blackburn’s twin towns

Peronne, France

The Pont Blackburn in Peronne, France (Image: Google Streetview)

This is one of the older examples of twin towns, taking place roughly 20 years before it was commonplace.

Peronne is located on the Somme, scene of some of the bloodiest battles in the First World War.

The links between the towns go back to those battles, where many Blackburn men took part in the first of those and in which the then-mayor’s son was killed.

The people carrying out repair work in Peronne submitted a scheme for a bridge over the Somme to be named Le Pont du Blackburn. The estimated cost was £1,700 and the committee in Blackburn approved the scheme.

It was opened October 12, 1924, with the mayor of Blackburn in attendance.

The bridge still stands to this day, while in Blackburn itself, a road named Peronne Crescent can be found off Accrington Road, close to junction 6 of the M65.

Altena, Germany

Altena, located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, has had a partnership with the aforementioned Peronne since April 1967.

Since they already had an established link with Blackburn, the twinning was expanded to all three towns, with the partnership officially being decided in 1971 and the first major meeting occurring in October of the next year.

Altena is a small town with a population of around 16,000. Its biggest attraction is its 12th century castle, which underwent a complete restoration in 1909.

Three years later it was the site of the world’s first youth hostel, created inside the castle. The old rooms are still on display and new rooms in the castle remain part of the hostel today.

Tarnow, Poland

Strzelecki Park, Tarnow, Poland (Image: Google Maps/Streetview)

Tarnow is a city in south east Poland with a population of around 105,000, making it the most similar-sized to Blackburn of its three twin towns.

It was captured by German forces during the Second World War and had its industry taken over.

As well, it was the site of the first mass transport of prisoners to the concentration camp at Auschwitz.

Now, it is an important centre of economy and industry for chemical plants, natural gas and defence.

Its old town is described as the pearl of the Polish Renaissance.