Sucy-en-Brie
Sucy-en-Brie is an ancient settlement and is composed of six districts, 17km south-east of Paris, in the region of the Val de Marne. It covers an area of 1043 hectares and has a population of 25,900. Communications are good, and many local people commute to the centre of Paris daily, which takes about 20 minutes by public transport.
Sucy has a lively social and cultural scene with a wealth of local societies. The enthusiast can indulge interests as varied as chess, pottery, enamel making, theatre workshop, painting and puppets to engraving, bridge and training for the polyathlon. Also, there is a sports park with 47 hectares of parkland to accommodate football, rugby and tennis as well as countryside trails. In all, Sucy hosts 150 cultural or sports associations.
Besides its cultural and sporting provision, it is well served by schools and colleges, and its environment is carefully nurtured to make it an attractive area in which to live and work. Despite its proximity to the capital, Sucy has fought hard to preserve its identity and traditions.
Further information can be obtained from the Sucy-en-Brie website (external link).
Bietigheim-Bissingen
The town of Bietigheim-Bissingen lies at the confluence of two rivers, the Metter and the Enz (a tributary of the Neckar), and is sited in the middle of the Neckar valley. It is 23 kilometres to the north of Stuttgart, the State Capital of Baden-Württemburg. The town of Bietigheim and the municipality of Bissingen were merged in 1975 to create a "Grosse Kreisstadt" or large district centre.
The two townships are linked by the Central Park, which lies along the River Enz. Within the park, the site of a former state garden festival, there are many attractive floral displays and shrubs, and also a childrens playground. It also has a Japanese Garden, planted in honour of Bietigheim's links with another of its twin towns, Kusatsu.
The charm of the area is most apparent in Bietigheim's remarkable old town centre, which is protected as a historic monument in its own right. Many half-timbered buildings survive and modern structures have been carefully integrated to form a visually pleasing harmony, making a walk around the pedestrian precincts very rewarding. Visitors can admire the Rathaus Town Hall (1507), with its remarkable clock-turret; the Hornmoldhaus, an early 16th century building with fine Renaissance interiors, now the district Museum, the Municipal Art Gallery in its historic setting as well as the "Schloss", a 300 year-old refurbished and renovated former castle, now used as a cultural centre and home of the Bietigheim music school. In addition, the whole townscape is brightened by a number of public sculptures.
Further information can be obtained from the Bietigheim-Bissingen website(external link).
More information
For more information, contact the Town Partnerships Office on 01276 707100 or email town.partnerships@surreyheath.gov.uk.