Backnang for You

Backnang? Perhaps for you this word is not much more than a bizarre-looking name on a sign post. If you read carefully, you will see that Backnang is one of Chelmsford’s twinned cities. But where exactly is this Backnang? And what does twinning really mean?

For starters, Backnang is pronounced bahk-nahng. Located in the southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg, we have 38,000 inhabitants, and we are an important commercial center for many surrounding towns and villages. Backnang is not only the last stop on the city rail line that goes directly into the state capital, Stuttgart, but it is also the gateway to the rural regions of the Swabian National Forest.

We have a bustling downtown, complete with the meandering Murr river, quaint cross-timbered houses and a wealth of cafés selling strong coffee and delicious German baked goods. Like Chelmsford, our industry, once based in leather making, now turns its sights skywards to satellites and space. In fact, a shared focus on telecommunication initially brought us together in 1984 when industry leaders and town councilors took the first steps towards establishing a twinning partnership.

Conceived in the wake of the Second World War, twinning is an act of reconciliation which encourages friendship and peaceful cooperation where once bitter enmity existed. In this spirit, twinning animates citizens of different cultures to engage with one another in fruitful ways. Backnang’s recent Art’s Festival in which Chelmsford artists and musicians played a major role is the latest creative expression of this noble endeavor.

Another example of such collaboration is our annual booth at the upcoming Cathedral Christmas Market. Anyone interested in learning more about Backnang, Germany or twinning is welcome to drop by. The skies may connect us, but we would love to meet you right down here on earth.