The Walled Towns Friendship Circle

What is the Walled Towns Friendship Circle?

The WTFC was established in 1989 in preparation for the 1990 European Tourism Year and currently represents 143 walled towns and cities in 27 different countries through Europe. Together they are hosts to over 25 million tourists each year. The aims of the Circle are:

• To create an international forum to consider the many mutual interests shared by walled towns
• To encourage friendships between the inhabitants of all ages in the walled town communities
• To foster the interchange of visits by individuals, societies, associations and clubs within walled towns
• To enrich each others lives through understanding and appreciation of the historical, traditional, cultural and artistic inheritance and customs of each other
• To encourage an increase in tourism whilst considering the challenges of motor traffic; pedestrian precincts; delivery services to homes and businesses; building and road maintenance; grants and assistance for preservation work and the responsibility and burdens of conservation
• To develop joint marketing strategies to increase worldwide awareness of walled towns as tourist attractions

The "Circle" has ambitious plans which include:

• The development of joint promotion and marketing strategies between walled towns
• The creation of "regional links" and walled heritage trails
• A European technical and academic exchange programme to highlight good practice in the fields of traffic and visitor management, conservation interpretation and environmental issues and European finding
• The development of the "Circle" as a European Network for promoting cultural exchange and co-operation. 

Chester currently holds the Presidency of  the Circle and is heavily involved guiding many of these exciting initiatives. It is also leading on an ambitious European funded project with nine other Circle members, including Valletta and Verona, called "Archway". "Archway" will produce over its three year life, a series of best practice guides on issues vital to the successful management of historic walled towns, such as, Transport, Conservation, Spatial Planning, Management of Cultural Heritage and Tourism. All member towns will benefit from the findings of these studies.

Check the Circles website at  http://www.walledtowns.com/ (external link)

"FiveTowns Link" North Wales

Chester Link Of The WTFC

• Beaumaris
• Caernarfon
• Conwy
• Denbigh
• Chester 

The link is held as a best practice example of running regional links. 

Chester and it's neighbouring walled towns in North Wales, Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy and Denbigh have been linked now for a number of years, as a regional sub group of the Circle and have made great strides in a number of areas areas and is now launching a second ambitious joint marketing initiatives geared towards key overseas markets. An extension of the existing Chester - North Wales link into Ireland is currently being considered.  You can visit their website at http://www.walledtowns.co.uk/ (external link)