Town Twinning

Athlone celebrated the 15th anniversary of the town twinning with Chateaubriant, France in 2010.

Chateaubriant is located in the French Department (county) of the Loire-Atlantique in the heart of the west of France. It is known as the 'middle country' of France or 'Le Pays de la Mee' formerly the Marches of Brittany,an ancient border zone between Brittany and France. The town has a population of 14,000 while the Mee country has over 40,000. It is equidistant (65 kms) from the cities of Nantes, Angers, Rennes and Laval. The hinterland is dotted with forests and lakes. It is a centre of cattle breeding in France and is internationally renowned for its famous 'Chateaubriant Steak'.

Bere was the name of the small village which predated the town and is still rembered through the annual 'Foire de Bere', a giant Agricultural Fair and showcase that takes place over a four day period in early September. An annual average of 50,000 people attend the fair.