The official twinning of Wigan and the Loire Valley city took place in 1988, with the arrangement starting informally several years earlier.
We have looked through Wigan Today’s archives for a selection of photographs relating to the twin towns from over the years.
5. A look back over the years since Wigan was twinned with French town Angers
A delegation from Angers donated 10 books to Lamberhead Green Library at a special reception hosted by the Mayor of Wigan Coun Michael Winstanley Photo: Paul Greenwood
6. A look back over the years since Wigan was twinned with French town Angers
Standish Library's reading group was visited by Angers ambassadress Alexia Papin Photo: Gary Brunskill
7. A look back over the years since Wigan was twinned with French town Angers
French ambassadress Helene Joulain with Aillen Howard and pupils at Woodfield Primary School, where she gave a talk about the twinning with Angers Photo: Gary Kelman
8. A look back over the years since Wigan was twinned with French town Angers
Wigan's ambassador to twin town Angers, Vicki Cunliffe, was being inundated with requests from Angevins hoping to spend the summer in Wigan borough Photo: Submitted