Cockermouth has enjoyed a long and successful twinning with the town of Marvejols in southern France. It shares many similarities with Cockermouth in that it adjoins a region of dramatic scenic beauty with Mt. Lozere and the deep rocky gorges of the rivers Tarn and Jont. Schools and sporting clubs have enjoyed many exchange visits boosting this 'entente cordiale'. The nearest airport is some distance away at Bezier, with Ryanair flights to the UK. But there is a railway station with some links to Paris.

Among the area's attractions are the medieval town itself, but also the chance to come face to face with the wolves that once roamed free across Europe. The wolves can be found at the Gevaudan Wolf Park. There are still wild boar in many of the forests across this region of France.

Marvejols is close to the A75 Paris to Perpignan motorway.
The Tourist Information Office or Maison du Tourisme
Tel. 0033 4 66 32 02 14

See the Marvejols official website at www.ville-marvejols.fr

 Just as Cockermouth had to steel itself for incursions by the Scots in the medieval era, her French twin Marvejols suffered for having backed the wrong side in the Hundred Years War in France. The troops of the misnamed Duke of Joyeuse in the 15th century attacked and three quarters of the population of Marvejols were massacred, the town set on fire and the fortifications razed to the ground. In 1601 Henry of Navarre (King Henry IV of France) was called the town saviour and enabled rebuilding of the town.

  
The links with France have also led the Rotary-clubs of Cockermouth and Mende-Lozè to sign an official twinning charter, during a ceremony that took place at the Hotel Lion d'Or in MENDE, on May 20th, 2000, in presence of club members from both Clubs, and many guests, where Mr. Claude CAUSSE, represented the Mayor of MARVEJOLS.
Signing of the Charter between the two Club Presidents for 1999/2000...Jeff Pattinson and Dominique Bizy(The Mende-Lozère President.)
The Rotary-club of Cockermouth was chosen as a twinning partner because of ties that already united some members of the Rotary-club of Mende-Lozère to certain members of the Rotary-club of Cockermouth, consequent to the European twinning of the two towns of Marvejols and Cockermouth, and notably inspired by Dominique JOUVE, Vice-President of the Twinning Committee of the Town of Marvejols and Vice-president of the Rotary-club of Mende-Lozère. The charter was signed during the sixteenth birthday celebration of the twinning between the two towns, who have during the year 2000 been jointly awarded the Europe Prize, the highest European reward, in recognition of the quality of their twinning.