From prestigious university towns to ancient settlements, Oxford is twinned with seven cities around the world, spread across three continents. But what do these cities in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and Nicaragua have in common architecturally? What about Poland, France, and Palestine? Where can we see our beloved university city in each of them? A look at each city’s traditions and visual culture reveals a connection close to the heart of Oxford: academic heritage.
Bonn (Germany) and Leiden (the Netherlands) share a common feature with Oxford: the highly prestigious university. Bonn, the birthplace of Beethoven, is home to one of the oldest universities in Germany. The institution blends modern and historic architecture, with the University Library embracing a St Catz-esque facade following its initial destruction in the Second World War, while the Koblenz Gate boasts gilded column capitals and no fewer than nine statues. Unlike Oxford, the University of Bonn does not seem to have as many odd traditions as their British twin, but as part of the wider Rhineland, it is a keen participant in the annual Karneval season.
Likewise, the University of Leiden is the oldest university in the Netherlands. Having produced 13 Nobel Prize winners, Leiden has been one of the world’s major scientific centres. Its academy building bears striking resemblance to Keble College with its unusual red brick construction. The De Valk mill and museum lies above the skyline, infusing the city with characteristic Dutch culture, exchanged with Oxford each year through performances by the Leiden Youth Choir. Bonn and Leiden are also both situated on an iconic river, the Rhine, just as the Isis and Cherwell rivers flow through Oxford.
Grenoble (France) is also a deeply ancient city. In southeastern France, Grenoble was the home of a Gallic tribe, the Allobroges, conquered by Caesar and subsumed into Roman Gaul before eventually becoming part of modern-day France. Despite its heritage, Grenoble today is a hub of modern architecture, reflecting its more recent industrial development. A leader in sustainable housing initiatives, Grenoble’s unique ‘fungus shaped’ apartment blocks use brown balconies contrasted against white cladding, creating the illusion of a tree growing inside a building. Just a look at the skyline, however, reminds one of the city’s history – the famous Bastille, a series of medieval fortresses, remains Grenoble’s most popular tourist attraction.
Padua is similarly ancient, with its own origin myth stemming from the Trojans. Perhaps to no surprise, the city is absolutely crammed full of historic architecture and beautiful artwork, from the artistically significant Scrovegni Chapel to the Romanesque and Byzantine style of the ‘il Santo’ Basilica. Much of the same can be said about Oxford – the concentration of listed buildings in Oxford is eye-watering. Yet, once again, the greatest similarity is in the prestigious and ancient university situated in the heart of the city. Founded in 1222, the University of Padua was a major centre of the Italian Renaissance, and home to leading intellectual figures such as Copernicus and Vesalius.
The last of the European cities tied with Oxford is Wrocław (Poland), as Oxford’s relationship with Perm (Russia) was suspended after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Oxford and Wrocław were twinned in 2018 in order to recognise Oxford’s large Polish community (the second most spoken language in Oxford is Polish). Wrocław maintains much of its architectural heritage, and the Old Town is named on Poland’s prestigious list of National Monuments. The Cathedral Island is, in particular, the oldest part of the city, and reflects the religious life of Poland more widely. Wrocław Cathedral dominates the skyline, its two towers gazing over the land. Once again, the University of Wrocław’s historic main building is perched on the side of the Oder River. During the Guanlia festival in June, students at Wrocław temporarily ‘steal’ the sword of the statue by the main entrance, symbolising the handing over of keys to the student government for festivities.
We next travel to Central America, to the city of León in Nicaragua. León has also historically been the intellectual centre of its nation, and hosts the second oldest university in Central America, the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua. The country has seen a complete transformation of education in recent decades, with several literacy campaigns having been awarded by UNESCO. The architectural highlight of León is undoubtedly the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of León, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Strikingly white, it is the largest cathedral in Central America and one of the oldest dioceses in the Americas. It blends the Neoclassical and Baroque styles with the Gothic, Renaissance, and Mudéjar traditions to create a religious centre which is truly unique.
Finally, we arrive at Ramallah (Palestine). Oxford and Ramallah became twin cities in 2019, after the creation of the Oxford Ramallah Friendship Association (ORFA) in 2002, after volunteers from Oxford called for help as Israeli tanks entered Ramallah in the same year. In the decades since its establishment, leading figures in Oxford and Ramallah have visited each city – most recently, the Palestinian flag was flown from the Town Hall to celebrate one such visit. Moreover, the Palestinian History Tapestry Project was displayed in the same location in 2021, an artistic exchange designed to celebrate Palestinian culture and raise awareness for the devastating situation in Palestine. Ramallah itself incorporates the architecture of several periods, from Roman ruins to the ultra-modern Arafat Mausoleum. The brightly-lit Ramallah Cultural Palace opened its doors in 2004, reflecting the cultural and intellectual importance of the city, home to poets, musicians, and activists. It is no wonder that Oxford is twinned with such an important area of the West Bank, and Oxford’s warm relationship with Ramallah shall hopefully provide ample opportunity to support the people of Palestine in what continues to be a catastrophic time.
Oxford’s twin cities share its intellectual spirit. The curiosity to learn, even in the face of poverty and destruction, endures. The buildings constituting each city reveal a deeper history, a reflection of religious life, cultural proliferation, and much needed political activism.
