Twin Towns

WHS that consist of two separate towns, whose history is linked (sometimes leading to strong rivalry).

Connected Sites

Site Rationale Link
Bauhaus Sites Weimar & Dessau
Budapest Buda and Pest, separate cities until 1873
Caves of Maresha and Bet Guvrin "the ancient twin towns of Maresha and Bet Guvrin" (AB ev)
Cesky Krumlov Krumlov and Latran - where the castle is located- used to constitute two distinct towns separated by the river.
Cordoba With Medina Azahara
Dubrovnik Dubrovnik and Ragusa were separate entities until the 12th Century.
La Chaux-de-Fonds / Le Locle La Chaux-de-Fonds & Le Locle
Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape Lednice & Valtice
Mantua and Sabbioneta Mantua & Sabbioneta
Medina Azahara With Cordoba: "Substantial political effectiveness was achieved by establishing these new cities within a short distance of the old centers that preceded them, following a Near Eastern tradition which was largely pre-Islamic. The examples of such twinned cities are multiple, on scales that are very diverse: besides the conurbation of Medina Azahara and Cordoba..." (AB ev)
Melaka and George Town Melaka and George Town rivalled over trade hegemony in the 18th / 19th century
Nan Madol Nan Madol and Lelu (The similarity between the two sites is stressed in the Nom file as well as the future intention to extend the nomination to include Lelu.)
Qhapaq Ñan Santa Ana and Vale Colorado - Almost an entire page is dedicated to the description of their shared culture in the nomination file
Quebrada de Humahuaca Tilcara and Maimara are in such strong rivalry that it sometimes comes to physical violence between their inhabitants
Regensburg Regensburg and Stadtamhof: the latter was a rival neighbouring city until its incorporation in the 20th century.
Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans Arc-et-Senans & Salins-les-Bains
Stralsund and Wismar
Úbeda and Baeza Ubeda & Baeza


Do you know of another WHS we could connect to Twin Towns?

Send it to me!

A connection should:

  1. Not be "self evident"
  2. Link at least 3 different sites
  5. Be explained, with reference to a source