Montceau-les-Mines celebrates 20 years of twinning with Zory

The town of Montceau-les-Mines celebrated the 20th anniversary of its twinning with the Polish city of Zory through a series of cultural events. A delegation from Zory, led by Vice-President Kamil Owczarek and Museum Director Lucyan Buchalik, was received by Mayor Isabelle Louis to honor the long-standing friendship between the two municipalities.

Cultural festivities at the L’Embarcadère included a musical performance titled ‘Les Déracinés,’ which explored the history of Polish and Italian immigration in the mining basin from 1920 to 1960. The show highlighted the arrival of Polish workers after World War I, their involvement in the French Resistance during the Occupation, and the post-war arrival of Italian laborers.

Attendees also participated in a cultural immersion featuring traditional Polish cuisine, such as Paczki, Placek, and Kabanos, alongside local artisan crafts. The anniversary included a literary presentation by author Wieslawa Pniewska, who discussed her novel ‘Le Passeur,’ which explores themes of memory and history.