On Saturday, November 6, 2026, the town hall of Vaulx-Milieu vibrated to the rhythm of Franco-Portuguese fraternity to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its twinning committee with the municipality of Durrães e Tregosa. Local elected officials, members and executives of both committees – warmly including their Portuguese friends – and former presidents were present, with palpable emotion.
The festivities featured speeches delivered in both French and Portuguese, followed by an award ceremony symbolizing the understanding born from the very first signing on November 27, 2016, in Vaulx-Milieu. This solemn and convivial moment continued with a toast and a grand meal offered in the reception hall, reminding everyone that the official signing in Portugal, which took place a little later on February 24, 2018, will undoubtedly provide an excellent opportunity to celebrate this anniversary again soon!
This event crowns a decade of encounters since the official creation of the association in April 2016. Over the past ten years, numerous key dates have strengthened their bonds, notably through the implementation of alternating annual trips allowing for regular and enriching exchanges between adults and children from both towns. This sincere and lasting friendship is also fostered by essential moments of conviviality that animate their village, such as the highly anticipated and traditional « Sardinade », successfully organized by the Vaulx committee at the end of June each year since 2017.
Key dates help understand this initiative: the first meeting in March 2016, the constituent General Assembly on April 6, 2016, a delegation visit to Durrães e Tregosa in July 2016, the official signing in Vaulx-Milieu on November 27, 2016, the first « Sardinade » in June 2017, the official signing in Portugal on February 24, 2018, and school exchange trips for 13 children starting in April 2019. Physical exchanges were paused in 2020-2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
More recent events include « La Festa » in March 2024, a day dedicated to Portuguese gastronomy and folklore, and the welcome of the Tregosa folklore troupe in October 2024. The official celebration and invitation to mark the 10th anniversary of the twinning committee took place on November 6, 2026.
