A “bigger and better” Newtown Outdoor Festival 2023 saw hundreds of people including special guests from France take part in a lively couple of days in glorious sunshine.
Organisers Walking Newtown held events on the lawns in front of Oriel Davies Gallery for the 220 walkers taking part as well as archery, canoeing, cycling, alpacas, wildlife, photography, fly fishing, gardening dancing and music.
During the weekend of the Outdoor Festival, held on June 3 and 4, Newtown Twinning Association welcomed 31 visitors from the French twin town of Les Herbiers. For many of the visitors this was their first experience of Wales and their first visit to Newtown.
Newtown Twinning Association chair Kate Rayner said: “There was a great sense of camaraderie and warmth between hosts and guests and friendships were formed and renewed.”
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Visitors were given the special opportunity to visit Cwrt Plas yn Dre on Milford Road which was the original early 15th Century Parliament House from Dolgellau, bought in 1885 by Pryce Jones and moved to his home in Newtown at Plas Dolerw.
It is said that it was the setting for the signing of a letter from Owain Glyndwr to Charles VI of France pledging support with France against the English. The original letter is now kept at the National Archives in Paris and the French visitors were interested to learn of this historical link with Wales.
The guests enjoyed staying three nights with their hosts in and around Newtown and on the Sunday night a buffet was held by Newtown Twinning for all the guests and hosts at Hafan Yr Afan, with musical entertainment provided by Geoff Beilby and Cornelius.
The twinning association has announced that it will be re-instating the popular French Village selling French wine and foodstuffs at the Newtown Food Festival on September 2 and 3 with guests from Les Herbiers serving on the stand.
People who would be interested to help at the French Village for a couple of hours on either or both of the days can contact the association by sending an email to newtowntwinning@gmail.com, or visit www.newtowntwinning.co.uk to find out all that’s going on during 2023.
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