When driving through the towns and villages of Nottinghamshire, signs welcoming people to an area will often contain the name of a European location that it is 'twinned' with. The concept of UK towns and cities having a European 'twin' emerged following the Second World War, and there are locations across Europe and further afield that are twinned with Nottinghamshire locations.
Although few may stop to ponder what life is like in these far-flung destinations, some fascinating stories lie behind them - with one having been used as a filming location for a major Hollywood blockbuster. The twinning arrangements can also be a source of controversy though, with Nottingham City Council being forced to cut ties with locations in Russia and Belarus following the invasion of Ukraine in February.
But in the other areas of Nottinghamshire, the twinning arrangements can be seen in several joint projects and even in the naming of some streets. Below are some of Nottinghamshire's twin towns and cities and the stories behind them.
