Cluses, France Beaverton’s sister city since 1999

ISing Choir’s benefit concert in Cluses Sunset over the city Hotel de’Ville in Cluses Overview: Located halfway between Geneva and Mont Blanc in southeastern France, Cluses is a small but vital stop for any outdoor enthusiast. Although it has historic agricultural roots, Cluses is also located in Frances’s “Technic Valley” and is a hot spot for blossoming enterprises.

Fun Facts: • Cluses became an independent commune on May 4, 1310.

• Cluses is famous for their Azye wine, Magland sausage and Reblochon cheese.

• Watchmaking is imbedded in Cluses’ history since the 18th century, and the Museum of Clock-Making and Bar-Tuning is solely dedicated to emphasizing this trait.

• The two main events of Cluses are the “Musiques en Stock Festival,” a modern pop-rock festival, and the “Ampersand,” an annual book fair.

• Cluses has two weekly Farmers Markets.

• The Cluses L’atelier is a music concert hall with a rehearsal studio which may also be rented out to local musicians.

Please visit www.BeavertonOregon.gov/SisterCities for more information. Words from a local: Cluses has a great location: we are only 15 minutes from the slopes and Annecy and Geneva is very close, too (about 30 – 40 minutes). Italy, Switzerland and Germany are also not very far away. When visiting Cluses, you must travel to nearby Chamonix to see Mont Blanc and Annecy, home to Europe’s most beautiful and purest lake. We have to travel outside the city because it’s very small and we don’t have any big stores. If we want to buy clothes for example, we usually go to Annecy, Annemasse or Geneva which are bigger. In the city of Cluses, I would recommend visiting City Hall, which is historic and beautiful, and the “Musée de l’horlogerie” which is our watch museum.

There is plenty to do on the weekends in or around Cluses. In the winter, we go skiing and in the summer we go hiking, kayaking and canoeing. We also like having parties in the mountains. We go visit larger cities to see concerts or cultural events. The ski resorts are good places to go to relax and have a drink.

My favorite event in Cluses, “Musique en Stock,” is a huge, free pop - rock music festival occurring every July. In October, we have the “Fête d’Automne” to celebrate the coming of fall. Vendors sell alcoholic apple cider and other fall goodies. In December, we have the “marché de Noël” festival, a night market where you can buy Christmas decorations, drink warm wine and munch on pretzels.

The area around Cluses if famous for its “reblochon,” which is kind of a cheese; “tartiflette,” which is potatoes, onion, cheese and bacon; three cheese fondue and “raclette,” made of cheese on potatoes with ham and bacon. Cheese is a very important part of the French diet.

The nightlife in Cluses is minimal but there are a few fun bars in town. Otherwise you can visit the cinema or a nearby city and dance at the discos until 6 in the morning. In the winter, the ice rink is always a fun experience.

Did you know? The capital of France is Paris. The national bird of France is the Gallic rooster. The official flowerof France is the iris. The national currency of France is the euro.