Citizens’ Meeting 2026 in Slovenia
25 May 2026, Reading time: 3 minutes
A coach full of anticipation. Host families instead of the hotel routine. Young people, new encounters, old friendships. International conversations set to folk-rock, opera arias and the “Kul-Bazar”.
And that is precisely why this weekend in Šentjur was so very different from what many people imagine a town twinning partnership to be.
Even the journey there has a festival vibe
Five o’clock in the morning at the coach park — far too early, really.
And yet: a great atmosphere right from the start. A coach full of anticipation. Host families instead of the usual hotel routine. Young people, new encounters, old friendships. International conversations set to folk-rock, opera arias and the “Kul-Bazar”. Between coffee, travel snacks and the first conversations, it quickly became clear that this wasn’t going to be your average club trip.Five o’clock in the morning at the coach park — far too early, really.
And yet: a great atmosphere right from the start. A coach full of anticipation. Host families instead of the usual hotel routine. Young people, new encounters, old friendships. International conversations set to folk-rock, opera arias and the “Kul-Bazar”. Between coffee, travel snacks and the first conversations, it quickly became clear that this wasn’t going to be your average club trip.
By the time we’d passed Austria, it was clear: this tour group was a success.
Why host families are simply unbeatable
Anyone can run a hotel. The best moments usually happen when you’re sitting together at the kitchen table, laughing at the mix of languages, or suddenly realising just how similar people really are, wherever they are.
That is precisely what makes town twinning so special.
The Kul-Bazar was a small European festival
Music. Conversations. Food. International encounters. The “Kul-Bazar” brought people from all over the world together in the heart of Šentjur — in an open, warm atmosphere, completely free of any formal or stuffy event atmosphere.
Or, to put it simply: pretty much the exact opposite of what many people associate with town twinning.
The finale? Everything — except the usual
To simply call the closing night a ‘colourful evening’ would probably have been the understatement of the weekend. With opera arias, folk-rock, an international audience, spontaneous conversations and a great deal of good cheer, the evening evolved into something somewhere between a cultural festival, a gathering of friends and a European family celebration. Mojca and Primož Hladnik gave us some real goose-bump moments with the famous drinking song from Verdi’s La Traviata — and less than half an hour later, everyone was dancing.
It is evenings like these that you end up remembering:
Not because of any formal programme, but because of that special feeling of having shared an experience together.It is evenings like these that you end up remembering:
Not because of any formal programme, but because of that special feeling of having shared an experience together.
Thursday: Arrival, reunions and European encounters
The town twinning event officially began on Thursday at the Ipavec Cultural Centre in Šentjur. Following an ecumenical service at St George’s Parish Church, the hosts welcomed the international guests from Neu-Anspach and Saint-Florent-sur-Cher. Alongside many familiar faces, there were also numerous new encounters — and it was precisely this mix that made the atmosphere special from the very first evening. Neu-Anspach’s mayor, Birger Strutz, also used the days to hold discussions with Mayor Marko Diaci and other representatives of the town of Šentjur. The focus was not only on the long-standing partnerships, but also on new ideas for future projects and exchanges
Friday: History, nature and Slovenian legends
On Friday, the tour group first headed to Rogatec. There, history came to life in the impressive open-air museum: historic farmhouses, traditional workshops and fascinating insights into the region’s past made the visit a little journey back in time. The tour then continued to Rogaška Slatina — one of Slovenia’s most famous spa towns. There, magnificent architecture blends with nature, healing waters and a unique atmosphere. And, of course, the accompanying Slovenian legend could not be missing: according to legend, it was Pegasus, the winged horse of Greek mythology, who struck the ground with his hoof to create the famous healing spring.
Between the observation tower, the spa gardens and our conversations together, many of those little moments arose – the ones that often stay with you the most in the long run.
Saturday: Kul-Bazar, music and plenty of international flair
On Saturday, Šentjur’s Obermarkt was transformed into an international hub brimming with music, encounters and cultural diversity. At the ‘Kul-Bazar’, people from a wide variety of nations showcased their cultures, specialities and traditions. The name perfectly captured the atmosphere: somewhere between a cultural festival, a street party and an international gathering. Everywhere, people were chatting, laughing, sampling food and taking photos. The boundaries between guests, hosts and nations blurred quite quickly. In addition, participants were able to visit the house of the famous Ipavec family of composers as well as the town’s museum collections. A particular highlight: guided tours were offered specifically in German and French.
Youth programme: experiencing Europe as a matter of course
Alongside the official programme, the youth group from Neu-Anspach was also out and about.
Pupils from the Adolf Reichwein School took part in their own international programme alongside young people from Šentjur — organised by the Šentjur Youth Centre under the leadership of Ines Zelič.
The programme included, among other things:
It is precisely encounters like these that show just how straightforward and natural international interaction can be for young people today.
Symbolic gifts for guests
Of course, gifts were exchanged as well — though these were far more personal than the usual standard souvenirs. Neu-Anspach brought a hand-carved owl from the Taunus region — a symbol of wisdom, friendship and a vision that transcends borders. The hosts from Šentjur, in turn, presented Neu-Anspach and Saint-Florent-sur-Cher each with an apple tree of a traditional regional variety.
A fine symbol of town twinning arrangements that have developed over many years — and are set to continue to bear fruit
💙And what remains:
Lots of new acquaintances. Old friendships. A whole host of stories.
And probably the realisation that Europe is sometimes at its strongest precisely where people are out and about together, laughing together and simply spending time with one another.
31 May 2026, reading time: 3 minutes
A little green dragon stands guard over the Slovenian beer tasting, the aroma of fresh crêpes – a tribute to our French friends from Saint-Florent – wafts through the Europe Day celebrations, and the first conversations about France, Austria and Slovenia are taking place in front of the new pavilion walls. Anyone who stops by the stand of the Association for the Promotion of International Relations in Neu-Anspach (VzFiB) on 9 May will quickly realise: here, Europe is not a political idea, but a living experience.
With its newly designed pavilion walls, the VzFiB is making a particularly striking impression this year. The large-format printed banners provide information about the association and Neu-Anspach’s three twin towns:
Many visitors stop to take a look, recognise familiar things, learn something new and strike up a conversation with the association’s members. The new display areas show at a glance what the association has stood for for more than four decades: fostering international friendships, bringing people together and making Europe a tangible part of everyday life.
In addition to the popular crêpes, it is the beer tasting in particular that attracts numerous guests. The beer on offer comes from the historic Slovenian brewery Laško, whose home region lies just a few kilometres from Neu-Anspach’s twin town, Šentjur.
In keeping with the theme, a small dragon adorns the stand. It serves as a reminder of Slovenia’s many dragon legends and attracts curious glances, particularly from children. At the same time, it serves as a bridge to the upcoming citizens’ exchange: just one week after Europe Day, a delegation from Neu-Anspach will travel to Šentjur to spend a few days there with friends from Slovenia and France. This gives visitors in Steinbach a little taste of the host country for this year’s citizens’ exchange.
Time and again on this day, we see what Europe is all about: people strike up conversations, share experiences and discover what they have in common. This is precisely what the VzFiB is committed to. The association promotes international relations between the residents of Neu-Anspach and the people in the partner towns. Town twinning is not merely administered, but actively lived out – through citizens’ exchanges, youth projects, contacts between clubs and joint events. The fact that such encounters have an impact is demonstrated by the trinational citizens’ meeting taking place in Šentjur a few days later. There, people from Neu-Anspach, Saint-Florent-sur-Cher and Šentjur come together, forge new connections and deepen existing friendships. Many of these encounters give rise to bonds that last for years.
Europe Day in Steinbach makes it clear: Europe does not begin in Brussels or Strasbourg. Europe begins where people engage in conversation, learn from one another and share common experiences. The VzFiB is delighted by the huge interest in Europe Day, the many conversations at the stand and all the visitors who got to know Europe a little better on this day. Because it is precisely these encounters that bring Europe to life – in a personal, warm and boundless way.
Every year since 2009, 48 young people from the three twin towns of Saint-Florent-sur-Cher, Sentjur and Neu-Anspach have come together to spend a week experiencing Europe, getting to know other cultures, working together in workshops and having fun.
Financially supported by sponsors such as Mainova, ErasmusPlus, the twin towns and local companies, the participants only incur low costs. Thanks to the voluntary work of the members of the Association for the Promotion of International Relations (VzFiB), the town twinning committees in Sentjur and Saint-Florent-sur-Cher, the co-operating schools Adolf-Reichwein-Schule, Collège Voltaire and in Sentjur with Osnovna šola Dramlje, Osnovna sola Hrusevec and Osnovna sola Slivnica, the municipalities and the students themselves, a great programme is created, organised, carried out and evaluated every year.
The highlights from 2024 are available here to browse through in the digital photo book
And if you would like to hold the book in your hands in printed form or give it as a gift, you can order it at cost price of €35. Simply send a short email to vorstand@vzfib-neu-anspach.de.
A colourful and varied overview of the projects and highlights of Encounter 2024 – just click on the button and enjoy…A colourful and varied overview of the projects and highlights of Encounter 2024 – just click on the button and enjoy…
01.04.2024, reading time 3 minutes
NEW: programme in GERMAN, FRENCH AND SLOVENIAN.
On 5 May 2024, it’s off again! 48 young people from Saint-Florent-sur-Cher, Sentjur and Neu-Anspach will come together for 6 days to learn, have fun, see further than the end of their noses, communicate with their hands and feet, discover their love of the forest, feel the power of water, cross borders and boundaries through sport, games and art, and experience Europe at first hand.
This is only possible thanks to the town of Neu-Anspach, our cooperation partner – the Adolf-Reichwein School – and the donors and sponsors who contribute financially and provide ideas, suggestions and creative solutions.
Many thanks to the organisers, the schools, the committees and the municipalities of Sentjur and Saint-Florent-sur-Cher!
We would like to make a special mention of the Klaus-Tschira Foundation, which is giving its strong support and encouragement to our project.
11.02.2024, Lesezeit 3 Minuten
Neu-Anspach invites you from Ascension Thursday, 9 May to Sunday, 12 May to the civic meeting with our French and Slovenian friends and to the trinational youth project from 5 to 12 May 2024.
This year’s motto “A change of perspective in Europe” is also the programme in which participants from different generations will discuss issues relating to environmental protection and nature conservation, the responsible use of resources and the associated European dimension.
So here’s another appeal: Be a host with an (international) heart!
Open your doors and let us deepen the enriching contacts with our French and Slovenian friends together.
Register now as a host. You will find the contact form below. Simply click on the green button, download it, fill it in and send it by email or post to the board email or postal address. Of course we can also answer your questions in advance by phone or e-mail.
Good to know – Here’s an overview of how the weekend went:
The guests are expected to arrive on Thursday afternoon (9 May 2024). There will be an optional guest welcome in Neu-Anspach together with the hosts in the Catholic community centre. This will be followed by dinner in the host families.
On Friday, 10 May 2024, the guests will go on a full-day excursion, which will also include lunch.
The Saturday morning is either at leisure with the guests – there may be an optional event in Neu-Anspach.
In the evening, the closing evening takes place in the community centre in Neu-Anspach for guests and hosts.
As in previous years, the Slovenian guests are expected to return home at midnight. The French guests will depart at around 9 a.m. on Sunday, 12 May 2024.
You still need a few arguments in favour of your commitment? Then simply take a look at the “Association” section of this website. In the Frequently Asked Questions section you will find 5 good reasons to take part in town twinning meetings. Enjoy reading!
„Together in joy!” – “In Freude vereint!” – „Ensemble dans la joie”
Trinational Youth Project 2023 in Šentjur
The Slovenian organisers have created an absolutely fitting motto for the 13th town twinning youth project: “Together in joy!” This includes a multifaceted programme that has been assessed and financially supported by ErasmusPlus, the EU’s mobility programme for young people. With great hospitality, various activities and lots of fun, 24 Slovenian hosts – pupils from the primary and secondary school in Dramlje (Šentjur) – await the 12 young people from Neu-Anspach and Saint-Florent-sur-Cher in France. This time, the tutors from Germany are Michaela Schmidt for the Adolf Reichwein School and Andreas Braum for the Association for the Promotion of International Relations. From France, Sandrine Gatinois and her colleague Caroline Alger from the College Voltaire will accompany the pupils. The organising team of the Slovenian school is the headmistress Mirjana Aužner and the two teachers Mitjar Logar and Simon Hebar, who are supported by the staff of the Youth Centre in Sentjur Lara Zmaher and Ines Zelič.
One of the young people from Neu-Anspach, Fianna Gubisch, reports:
The first thing that was done on arrival in Dramlje, a district belonging to Šentjur, was of course a photo of all the exchange partners together. As everyone was exhausted from the journey, which partly took place overnight, the rest of the day was spent with the host families, as in the previous year.
When it finally started on Monday, everyone got to know each other better through various games and discovered the school. At noon, we had a honey picnic where we could taste different types of honey.
The following day, after a short warm-up programme, we went into the workshops: Cooking, using herbs for cosmetics and food and creating a barefoot park. Unfortunately, the following hike could not take place due to heavy rain, but was replaced by the preparations for Saturday. On Saturday evening, the hosts and the guests of the civic encounter and the youth project met for the common evening event, where they ate, danced, sang and simply celebrated.
A very special guest gift was developed by Ines Zelič and Lara Zmaher from the Šentjur Youth Centre. With a lot of commitment and creativity, they created a photo book of all the youth projects so far.
For those who want to discover the highlights and activities of the twinning youth projects since 2009, go to the digital photo album here.
Every year since 2009, 48 young people from the 3 twin towns of Saint-Florent-sur-Cher, Sentjur and Neu-Anspach meet to spend a week experiencing Europe, getting to know other cultures, working together in workshops and having fun.
Financially supported by ErasmusPlus, the European mobility programme for young people, participants incur only low costs. Thanks to the voluntary work of the members of the Association for promotion of international relations (VzFiB), the comitees for town twinning in Sentjur and Saint-Florent-sur-Cher, the cooperating schools Adolf-Reichwein-Schule, Collège Voltaire and Osnova Sola Hrusev, Osnova Sola Dramlje, the municipalities and the students themselves every year a great program is created, organized, executed and evaluated.
56 pages give an overview of the projects and show the highlights during the encounters.
„Acting to live better together! Agir pour mieux vivre ensemble” Gemeinsam aktiv für ein besseres Zusammenleben.“
– Trinational Youth project 2022 in Saint-Florent-sur-Cher
After a two-year break due to the pandemy the friends from Germany, France and Slovenia finally met again in person over Ascension Day. This time, as planned since 2020, in the French town of Saint-Florent-sur-Cher. Every year, the young people from the three twin towns form the vanguard for the big partnership meeting in the course of the youth project.
Eleven young people from the Adolf Reichwein School travelled to Paris by train with teacher Lili Kramer and Helga Feller, Chairperson of the Association for the Promotion of International Relations Neu-Anspach (VzFIB). Even the 90-minute sightseeing tour in the French capital was a great way to get in the mood for a week in France.
In Saint-Florent-sur-Cher they met the French participants of the youth project and the young people from Sentjur in Slovenia. Mayor Nicole Progin welcomed the young people at the beginning in her official residence in the Florentais castle. The first day was full of interesting impressions for the 47 young people and their companions and so it continued. With workshops, discovery tours in the twin town and the nearby district town of Bourges, a visit to the climbing park that literally fell into the water, where, due to the weather, instead of scrambling, they were able to exchange ideas and get to know each other, and numerous other highlights, the organisational team in France, consisting of the twinning committee and the school, especially the teacher Sandrine Gatinois and her colleague from the youth centre, Magali Grochoki, had designed an exciting programme. This not only met the strict evaluation standards of ErasmusPlus, but also excited the young people and their companions. Everyone worked with commitment, learned a lot and had a lot of fun. As usual, the workshop results were presented to the participants of the citizens’ encounter and the parents of the French young people at the colourful final evening.
This week of exchange, learning and working together and having fun went by much too quickly – as always, there were tears of farewell and the heartfelt wish of all to see each other again soon… In the spirit of Erasmus: enriches lives, opens minds.
We look forward to seeing you again in 2023 in Šentjur – the invitation was already extended by the committee chairman Robert Gajsek at the “Bunten Abend” and a heartfelt “Merci” to the friends in Saint-Florent-sur-Cher!
„Our Future is now! – Unsere Zukunft ist jetzt!“ –
„Notre avenir, c’est maintenant” !
This was the motto of the trinational youth project 2019 in Neu-Anspach.
Here is a selection of photos taken during the project. First of all, there was the arrival of the participants and their companions on Sunday. On Monday morning, the project started with the official welcome in the community centre by Mayor Pauli, the headmasters of the ARS, Mr Rosenstock and Mr Stanzel. Mr. Rodriguez, representing Mainova, one of the main sponsors of the project, handed over the cajons for the cajon workshop and with lively music from the ARS band, things got started. For three days, various workshops took place in the mornings, in the afternoons there was a scavenger hunt through Neu-Anspach, a guided tour of the ADAM HALL Group, the local international manufacturer of event technology solutions, and a visit to Bad Homburg. Frankfurt was on the agenda on Friday. On Saturday morning, the young people, their host families and the participants of the citizens’ encounter, who had been guests in Neu-Anspach since Thursday, met for a game without borders on the fairground behind the town hall. The young people presented the results of their workshops at the colourful evening.
7 days of dialogue, exchange and international encounters across language barriers – supported by ErasmusPlus and other sponsors – realised by 48 motivated young people, committed guides, creative organisers and supporters from Neu-Anspach and the partner towns.sponsors – realised by 48 motivated young people, committed guides, creative organisers and supporters from Neu-Anspach and the partner towns.
“Bridging values – embracing differences!”
– Trinational youth project of the twin towns 2018 in Šentjur
The international youth project involving 48 young people from the partner municipalities of Šentjur, Neu-Anspach, Germany and Saint-Florent-sur-Cher, France, will spend a week in 2018 bridging intercultural differences, strengthening intercultural dialogue and the opportunities that diversity offers.
This year’s exchange will take place at the Slivnica School in Gorizia near Slivnica. The 12 young people each from Germany and France will be hosted by the Slivnica and Blaz Kocen schools in the Ponikva district.
The young people exchange their ideas about community and friendship. In workshops, sports, games and fun, they experience how quickly one can communicate across language barriers and how much fun it is to get involved with new acquaintances. Accommodation in host families allows you to discover differences and similarities in family life, food and leisure activities. A visit to the country’s capital Ljubljana rounds off the varied programme, which also meets the strict ErasmusPlus funding guidelines this year. As always, 7 intensive days fly by. With many tears of farewell and the promise to stay in touch, 12 young people each travel back to Neu-Anspach and to Saint-Florent-sur-Cher with a lot of new impressions, a new awareness of diversity.
