"Taming" borders : actions taken within the border areas in selected European twin cities

Abstract

Th e aim of the article is to show the changes that are currently taking place in the border areas of the selected twin cities. Rivers that are passing through those cities, according to the current pro-European integration trends, become their symbolic places. Th ey support creating twin cities spaces of the new quality and organizing common plays and celebrations. Taking part in those events in the ethnically mixed groups encourages renewing contacts and establishing new ones between people on both sides of the border. Th e paper will be illustrated by some examples of the activities that take place at border bridges and twin town river. Contemporary events and projects that weaken the role of the state border as a barrier will be also discussed. I will describe actions and initiatives that cause that border areas periodically function as the city centre and become a special area of intercultural relations.