Bonjour Chemnitz! Days of Franco-German friendship
Review of the Franco-German Days 2026
For the first time, from 19 January to 1 February 2026, the city of Chemnitz invited interested parties to discover the cultural and linguistic diversity of France at various locations during a two-week series of events. "Bonjour Chemnitz! Days of Franco-German Friendship" was organised by the City of Chemnitz in collaboration with many partners.
For a fortnight, Chemnitz was all about Franco-German friendship. Whether at the exhibition, the moderated reading, the lively French regulars' table, French film evenings, an atmospheric chanson concert, the German-French city walk, the Candlemas celebration on the Schloßberg in conjunction with the French chandeleur or the French karaoke evening on the Sonnenberg - France could be experienced in Chemnitz in many different ways.
The long-standing and intensive town twinning with Mulhouse became visible and alive during these days. The events emphasised how valuable cultural exchange is for the city's society.
Balades Dessinées - exhibition and drawn city walk
The "Bonjour Chemnitz!" programme kicked off with the exhibition "Balades Dessinées a Mulhouse: 800 years in 800 pictures" in the exhibition room of the town hall.
Mayor Dagmar Ruscheinsky and the artist Lili Terrana from Mulhouse welcomed the guests. On display was a selection of pictures from the twin city of Mulhouse, which were created to mark the 800th anniversary of the city in Mulhouse on Drawn City Walks from September 2024 to September 2025.
On one of her so-called "Balades Dessinées" (Drawn Walks), Lili Terrana took participants on a walk through Chemnitz, where they were able to capture the special or unusual moments of the walk in drawings using materials provided by the artist and thus rediscover the city. Due to the weather, the event took place inside the town hall. A translator was on hand to help with communication.
Drawn city walk & interview with the artist Lili Terana
Drawn city walk & interview with the artist Lily Terana
Institutions and associations involved in the programme
The series of events was made possible by the contributors, cooperation partners, cultural institutions, associations, schools and the numerous helpers in the background. The Institut français Leipzig in particular provided the impetus for the development of this project and contributed to its success as a committed partner.
All institutions & associations:
City of Chemnitz, twin city Mulhouse, Institut français Leipzig, Chemnitz City Library, Chemnitz University Library, Chemnitz University of Technology, Chemnitz Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Cinéfête - The French School Film Festival, Clubkino Siegmar, Kino Metropol, Oberdeck Chemnitz, French Stammtisch Chemnitz, Georgius-Agricola-Gymnasium, Raguzzi/ Gute Zieten e. V., Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz, Schlossbergmuseum, Bürgerhaus City e. V., Chemnitzer Geschichtsverein 1990 e. V., Ev.-Luth. St.-Petri-Schloßkirchgemeinde Chemnitz, Mozartgesellschaft e. V., Freunde des Historischen Handwerks e. V., Formation Ent_Rüstet, Erzgebirgsbläser
À bientôt - See you in 2027!
France-lovers in Chemnitz can look forward to a continuation of the project at the same time at the beginning of the year in 2027.