Twin Cities: Interesting and Inexplicable "Fraternal" Ties of Serbian Cities

Twinning of cities has become a common diplomatic and economic practice throughout Europe and the world in the second half of the 20th century, which continues to this day.

In order to create political and economic cooperation, strengthen cultural and business ties, promote tolerance, and even achieve general reconciliation among countries after World War II, cities around the world found reasons and interests to connect with those thousands of kilometers away, as well as with those with whom they seemingly had nothing in common.

This interesting practice has been embraced in our country as well, with many cities and municipalities in Serbia having their "relatives" abroad, namely sister cities in various meridians.

In reality, however, as often happens in life, most of these connections exist only formally and are based on mutual protocol visits during fairs or significant local events.

You can see numerous "family connections" of Serbian cities with their counterparts around the world (for various reasons) on this link. In the following, read about the most interesting ones and the ones that are completely inexplicable, even if they are only symbolic.

Belgrade – Coventry (England)

The connection between the Serbian capital and the English city of Coventry dates back to 1957 and is based on a similar fate that the two cities experienced during World War II. Like Belgrade, Coventry was devastated by bombs during the war, and Belgrade subsequently helped rebuild the city's theater, which has been named Belgrade Theatre ever since.

Niš – Kursk (Russia)

The oldest twinning of one Serbian city with another dates back to 1920 when, after the October Revolution, a miraculous icon of the Mother of God, known as the "Kurskaya" icon, arrived in Niš with Russian monks. This icon was rescued from a burned monastery near the city of Kursk and, upon arriving in the fraternal Kingdom of SHS and the city of Niš, it was considered saved.

Novi Sad – Dortmund (Germany)

Although not the first or only one, Dortmund is probably the most significant twin city of Novi Sad. There is no specific historical reason for the closeness of these two cities, but successful cooperation between them has existed since 1982, primarily in the fields of education, healthcare, sports, and economy. It is little known that Novi Sad has its own small square in the center of Dortmund.

Inđija – Al Salt (Jordan)

One of the more difficult-to-explain connections between cities is the twinning of Inđija and the Jordanian town of Al Salt. The exact reason for the connection between the Srem municipality and the Arab town is unknown, but it could be assumed that traditional and highly developed agricultural production is the common thread that connects them.

Kikinda – Narvik (Norway)

Another seemingly difficult-to-explain twinning relationship is nurtured between the town in northern Banat and a Scandinavian town from the cold north of Norway. The connection is based on little-known but poignant historical facts that a large number of Yugoslavs, including citizens of Kikinda, perished in concentration camps in the vicinity of Narvik during World War II. The former largest hotel in Kikinda, although neglected, still bears the name of the Norwegian town.

Jagodina – Chrysoupoli (Greece)

Due to the traditionally good relations between the two peoples, twinning of Serbian and Greek cities is a common occurrence. Almost every town in Serbia has at least one twin city among Greek cities, but none of them has such an idyllic relationship as Jagodina and Chrysoupoli. These two cities exchanged two hectares of land - the Greeks received land in Jagodina's industrial zone, while the people of Jagodina gained land on the coast of the Aegean Sea.

Valjevo – Sittard (Netherlands)

The friendship between Valjevo and a city in the south of the Netherlands originated in an unusual way, initiated by the personal collaboration of two artists, Gjus Rubruk and Voja Jovanović, in the late 1980s. After several successful guest exhibitions on both sides, the cooperation was elevated to the level of city leaders at that time and has since acquired a traditional status.

Kraljevo – Niagara Falls (Canada)

The direct reason, cause, and mediator in the twinning of the city on the Ibar River with the town near the magnificent Niagara Falls in distant Canada is Milomir Glavčić, a Serbian immigrant from the surroundings of Kraljevo and a prominent resident of Niagara Falls - one of the largest contemporary philanthropists and benefactors who has been donating money and helping his compatriots in the homeland for years.

Vranje – Cetinje (Montenegro)

Perhaps not as exotic a twinning as some of the previous ones, but Vranje and Cetinje have had their special connection since 1970, thanks to the Vranje-based company Alfa Plam, whose representatives bought and donated a lost and precious historical item - the gift saber of Russian Tsar Alexander II to Prince Nikola Petrović Njegoš - to the Historical Museum of Montenegro at an auction in Paris in the 1960s.

Šabac – Fujimi (Japan)

An intercontinental twinning relationship that has lasted for almost 40 years has developed between the largest city in Mačva and a town on Honshu Island. The exact reason for the twinning, back in 1982, is unknown, but the fact that Japan sends financial aid to impoverished children in Šabac every year demands not only twin respect but also love.

Bor – Le Creusot (France)

The connection between the city of copper and the French town of Le Creusot is based on mining as the main economic activity of both cities, as well as the historical fact that after World War I, the management of the Bor copper mines was carried out for years by the so-called French Society of Bor Mines, founded by Đorđe Vajfert (with French capital).

Kladovo – Hilerød (Denmark)

What could connect the isolated town on the banks of the Danube with a city in northern Denmark?! The answer is: several prominent Danes of Serbian origin, precisely from Kladovo. Thanks to their engagement, connections were established between the two cities, through which aid even came from distant Denmark to these areas during the catastrophic floods in 2014.