07/16/2026
Provo, Utah and Meissen, Germany became sister cities 25 years ago. The relationship was inspired by the mutual connection of Karl Maeser, who was selected by Brigham Young to be the founding principal of Brigham Young Academy which later became Brigham Young University, having been born in Meissen.
During these 25 years there have been many changes in city leadership on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, but a constant has been a student exchange program between Timpview High School in Provo, guided by German teacher Stephen Van Orden, and Gymnasium Franziskaneum in Meissen, which has seen hundreds of students visiting each other's respective cities over the past quarter century.
From July 2-5 a delegation from Meissen consisting of Oberbürgermeister (Lord Mayor) Markus Renner, Anne Dziallas, his Head of Office, Karsten Müller of the Meissen City Council with his wife Anett, and Jürgen Reiß of the Meißen Twin Town Association with his wife Jaqueline, visited Provo to celebrate the 25th year of the sister city relationship, the 150th anniversary of Brigham Young University, and the 250th birthday of the United States of America.
During their stay in Utah they attended the Freedom Festival Gala on July 2, toured Provo City Hall, Timpview High School, and Brigham Young University on July 3, capped off by attending a dress rehearsal of The Scarlet Pimpernel at The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater that night, then the Freedom Festival Parade and Stadium of Fire on July 4, followed by attending a broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word featuring Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs and a tour of Temple Square on July 5.
The delegation enjoyed their brief visit to Utah and welcome visitors to Meissen, particularly in 2029 when the city celebrates its 1100th birthday!
Attached are several pictures from the delegation's visit as well as a few photographs from Meissen which were taken last summer.
