Antony: Lexington's Sister City in France

About Antony, France
The Lexington-Antony Sister City Association
History of the Lexington-Antony Relationship
Lexington's Historical Link to France
In the 1980s & 90s
In 2009-10
Plans for the Future

About Antony, France

Antony, situated just to the south of Paris, is the Town of Lexington's "Sister City" in France.

Antony is a dynamic and bustling town of over 60,000.  The town is located about 6 miles from Orly airport and offers rapid, direct train service to and from Paris on the RER. 

The town offers a wide variety of cultural, educational and sporting events throughout the year, notably:

• a large wine and cheese fair in September,
• a Christmas market,
• an antiques fair,
• an international guitar festival and
• a half-marathon. 

Attractions include:

• a preserved section of the old medieval town center,
• the Saint-Saturnin church featuring sections older than in any other church in the Paris metropolitan region,
• pleasant shops and cafes,
• the nearby large and beautiful Parc des Sceaux and
• cultural events such as art exhibitions in a historic manor house and a modern music conservatory.

Lexington has a close and warm working relationship with officials in Antony and informal, friendly links between citizens of both towns further strengthen this relationship.

Return to top

The Lexington-Antony Sister City Association

The Lexington-Antony Sister City Association is dedicated to promoting goodwill, friendship, educational, civic and cultural exchange between the people of Lexington and Antony, France.  This group is separate from but strongly supports the long-standing student-exchange program between language departments in the public schools of Lexington and Antony.

Specifically the Lexington-Antony Sister City Assiociation's objectives are to:

• Help promote and support student and teacher contacts and exchanges,
• Promote and support  municipal exchanges and best practice sharing,
• Create and nurture a communications channel between citizens of both of our towns,
• Encourage and facilitate cultural exchanges, and
• Facilitate tourism cooperation and development.

Return to top

History of the Lexington-Antony Relationship

Lexington's Historical Link to France

Lexington's relationship with France can be dated at least as far back as Lafayette's visit to the town in 1824, when he visited Lexington Green on his farewell tour and was welcomed by a large welcoming crowd of citizens and Town officials and a 45 foot banner hung across the road in East Lexington to welcome him. As described Charles Hudson's 1913 history of the Lexington:

"On the 2d of September, 1824, Lafayette honored Lexington with his presence. 
 Attended by his voluntary suite, he left Boston for our peaceful village. At the line 
 of the town he was received by a troop of horse and a cavalcade of citizens, who 
 escorted him to the Common. Here was a beautiful arch of evergreen and flowers, 
 with a motto,—'Welcome, Friend of America, to the Birthplace of American Liberty'."

Return to top

In the 1980s & 90s

In more recent times, the relationship between France and Lexington has been enhanced through Lexington-Antony academic and cultural and exchange and personal contacts. 

• The relationship first began over twenty years ago with an exchange of art of various Lexington and Antony artists. 
• Shortly thereafter the two towns began an exchange program with the Middle Schools.  Currently, the exchange program between Lexington High School and the Lycée Descartes involves students, teachers, and parents.
• The relationship between the towns was strengthened in 1995 with the support of then Selectman Dan Fenn, with informal two-way exchanges initiated between citizens in 1996. 
• In 1999, at the invitation of Patrick Devedjian, at that time Mayor of Antony, 67 Lexington citizens, officials and Minute Men traveled to France for a week of events, including the dedication of the Place de Lexington in Antony. 
• The following year a delegation of officials and citizens from Antony visited Lexington for a week of celebrations around the events of Patriot's Day.

Return to top

In 2009-10

Ten years later, under the leadership of the Tourism Committee, in September 2009, a delegation of Lexington citizens and Minute Men, accompanied by Town Manager Carl Valente, traveled to Antony for a formal visit. 

• During the visit they celebrated the 10^th anniversary of the dedication of the Place de Lexington with Patrick Devedjian, now a government minister, along with Mayor Jean-Yves Sénant, Assistant Mayors, the US Embassy's Cultural Attaché and Antony's Comité de Jumelage (Sister City Committee). 
• While in Antony they participated in Antony's annual Wine & Cheese Fair, during which Shirley Frawley was inducted a well-known cheese society as the representative of Lexington.  The Minute Men were welcomed as celebrities during the Fair. 
• The Lexington group visited sites in Paris (including the Assemblée Nationale, where they were welcomed by Hauts de Seine Parliamentary Deputy George Siffredi), and participated in a moving ceremony at Normandie.

In April 2010, the Mayor Sénant of Antony and his wife Claire accompanied a delegation of 22 including Assistant Mayors and other officials and members of their Comité de Jumelage, to Lexington.  The delegation:

• celebrated Patriot's Day and marched in the parade,
• participated in various receptions,
• took the Liberty Ride, and
• enjoyed visits to various local and regional sites. 

During this visit the Town officially announced the development of the planned Antony Park in Lexington in the Tower Park area.

Return to top

Plans for the Future

The Lexington-Antony Sister City Association is working on a number of projects to further enhance our relationship, including:

• the creation of the Antony Park in Lexington,
• French-themed activities and events in Lexington,
• an informal visit to Antony by Lexington residents during Antony's Wine & Cheese Fair September 9-11, 2011 and
• a future visit of an Antony delegation to Lexington in 2013.

Informal visits between Antony and Lexington residents are encouraged.  If you wish to travel to Antony, would like more information or to be informed of events please contact us at lasca@tourlexington.us

Return to top