York has an extensive international history dating back millennia.
Today, the city is home to people from across the world and is globally recognised as a UNESCO City of Media Arts, a Human Rights City and as a home of world leading innovation.
We play an active role in the international relations of the city, supporting partners to enhance their extensive relationships around the world which in turn promotes the city and supports its residents.
For further information about City of York’s international relations activity, please contact: global@york.gov.uk.
York's relationships with its twin cities
'Twinning' links similar communities in different countries to help us share knowledge about our way of life, discuss mutual problems, form cultural and social links, and develop friendships.
Twinning began after World War II as a way of establishing links between communities of former enemy countries.
Since then, villages and towns across Europe have established twinning links with the aim of developing mutual understanding and cross-cultural awareness between people from different countries.
We have strong connections with several cities in particular as part of our sister and twin city agreements.
Twin and sister city relationships link similar communities in different countries to help us share knowledge about our way of life, discuss mutual problems, form cultural and social links, and develop friendships.
York has twin and sister city relationships with:
- Dijon in the Burgundy region of France, since 1953
- Münster in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany, since 1957
- Nanjing in China, since 2016
- Jorvik, the 10th century Viking settlement and historical predecessor of York, England, 'temporal twinning' since October 2014
The Dijon and Münster relationships are particularly active with several collaborations having taken place in recognition of some of the challenges and opportunities that affect places across the world.
Alongside the direct relationships between us and our counterparts in Dijon and Münster, twinning associations have also been formed to allow those interested in York’s relationships with these 2 places to meet and discuss opportunities for collaboration including communications, exchanges, events and even visits.
Our relationship with Münster
Find out more about the Münster relationship:
- visit the York Münster Twinning Association website
- follow the York Münster Twinning Association on Twitter
- visit the York Münster twinning Facebook page
Contact the Münster Twinning Association on email: yorkmuensterassociation@gmail.com if you’re interested in joining.
Our relationship with Dijon
Find out more about the Dijon relationship:
- visit the York Dijon Twinning Group website
Contact Chris Kyriacou from the York Dijon Twinning Group on email: chris.kyriacou@york.ac.uk if you’re interested in joining.
The Alliance Française de York not only teaches French and promotes French culture, but is also active in links with Dijon.