Chalon-sur-Saone, France
The French town of Chalon-sur-Saône has about 48,000 inhabitants. It is the second biggest town of the beautiful, wine growing and historic region of Burgundy, between Dijon and Lyon. Chalon is located 1 hour and 20 minutes from Paris by TGV (TGV is an acronym for Train à Grande Vitesse, that is, high-speed train) and 3 hours by car. The name of Burgundy finds its origin in the Burgunds, a people that emigrated from the southern regions of the Baltic Sea around 300 A.D.
Chalon-sur-Saône is the native spot of Nicéphore Nièpce, the inventor of photography in 1826. The Nicéphore Nièpce museum has an impressive collection of cameras. Chalon is also the native spot of Dominique-Vivant Denon, the founder of Egyptian studies and the Louvre in Paris in the beginning of the 19th century. In the museum carrying his name there are magnificent finds from the stone and bronze ages. It’s necessary to also mention Emiland Gauthey, a civil engineer and architect from the 18th century. His specialty was constructing bridges and canals.
Chalon is also famous for its transnational street theatre festival, which takes place every year in July and welcomes 400,000 spectators. The city has numerous educational institutions at all levels. Among them you will find dynamic music schools and a modern conservatoire.
Chalon is also a very sports-minded town with about 100 clubs. The basketball club (“l’Elan”) which was created in 1970 has distinguished itself on the professional level since 1994, reaching the best French and European tournaments.
Lycée Hilaire de Chardonnet and Naestved Gymnasium have had regular student exchanges since 1993, and Chalon has hosted as well as supervised municipal trainee from Naestved. In 2006, the municipalities of Chalon and Naestved signed at partnership contract favouring youth exchanges at all levels.
Sidst opdateret den 3. august 2010