welwyn is twinned with the village of champagne-sur-oise in the "département" of val-d'oise, just north of paris. the connection is organised in welwyn by the welwyn anglo-french twinning association (wafta). the twinning arrangement was entered into in 1973, as a result of a visit to champagne-sur-oise by the headmaster and pupils of st mary's school, welwyn, setting up a cultural association which has continued since then.