Argentan

Sint-Niklaas

Schongau

Lucca

Colmar

 Twin Towns: Argentan

Argentan, Normandy has been twinned with Abingdon since 1956 and is our oldest twinning. It is a town of similar size to Abingdon situated just south of Falaise - the birthplace of William the Conqueror - and 40 miles due south from the city of Caen and the Normandy beaches.

It was badly damaged during the Second World War but has now been rebuilt. The 15th century church of St Germain in the centre of the town has now been fully restored. It was from Argentan that the knights set forth to murder Thomas à Becket of Canterbury in 1170.

There is a weekly market in Argentan and the town hosts the annual Quasimodo Agricultural fair the weekend after Easter, a colourful event at which Abingdon is regularly represented.

The countryside around Argentan has many beautiful Chateaux to visit and the Route du Fromage, which passes through Camembert, and Livarot is worth visiting. A visit to France's most famous stud farm, Haras du Pin, is also worthwhile, and there is the local cider and calvados to sample.