To mark the French bank holidays, the French national flag was hoisted at the town hall of the municipality of Rüdersdorf near Berlin on 14 July 2020.
Rüdersdorf near Berlin and the French town of Pierrefitte-sur-Seine have been actively twinned since 1966. Originally, Mayor Sabine Löser wanted to travel to Pierrefitte-sur-Seine on 8 May, the 75th anniversary of the liberation, and take part in a commemoration ceremony with the mayor of the twin town. The trip was not possible due to the coronavirus restrictions in place at the time.
The flag is symbolic of the friendship between the two towns, the deep bond and the gratitude of living in peaceful neighbourhoods for 75 years now.
The French bank holidays commemorates the fête de la fédération (Federation Day), which was celebrated as a sign of reconciliation exactly one year after the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789. The slogan of the French Revolution, liberty, equality and fraternity (liberté, égalité, fraternité), were later incorporated into the French constitution.
In addition to the French flag, the European and German flags are also flown.
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