The City of Charlottesville is an active member of Sister Cities International, a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between U.S. and international communities. They strive to build global cooperation at the municipal level, promote cultural understanding and stimulate economic development. Charlottesville proudly serves as Sister City to:
Sister Cities International is a leader for local community development and volunteer action. The program aims to motivate and empower private citizens, municipal officials and business leaders to conduct long-term sister city programs.
- The newly formed Sister Cities Commission is always looking for citizens to participate in many capacities, CLICK HERE to find out more!
Besancon, Franche-Comte, France
Encircled by the Doubs river and set in exceptionally beautiful surroundings, Besancon is a city of art and history. It won the title of France's "greenest city". Once controlled by the Spanish, Besancon still displays extensive fortifications built by the well known architect Vauban. Capital of Franche-Comte, Besancon is the economic and cultural pole of the region. In the 19th Century, the city became the 
center of France's clock and watch-making. It is now a major European center of the precision industries sector (microtechnology, robotics,...). It has an important university, a Center of intensive language studies, drawing students from all over the world. Besancon has a rich cultural life and has always been a music loving city. From June to September, "Festiv'été" offers all kinds of festivals (music, theater, dance, exhibitions...). The city has first-class sports facilities. There is something for everyone, hiking, golf, cycling, horseback riding, canoeing...
Pleven, Bulgaria
Pleven Bulgarian: historically known as Plevna in English) is the seventh most populous city in Bulgaria. Located in the northern part of the country, it is the administrative centre of Pleven Province, as well as of the subordinate Pleven municipality. Internationally known for the Siege of Pleven of 1877, it is today a major economic centre of the Bulgarian Northwest and Central North and the third largest city of Northern Bulgaria after Varna and Rousse. Pleven is located in an agricultural region in the very heart of the Danubian Plain, the historical region of Moesia, surrounded by low limestone hills, the Pleven Heights. The city's central location in Northern Bulgaria defines its importance as a big administrative, economic, political, cultural and transport centre. Pleven is located 170 km away from the capital city of Sofia, 320 km west of the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and 50 km south of the Danube. The river Vit flows near the town and the tiny Tuchenitsa river (commonly known in Pleven as Barata, literally "The Streamlet") crosses it. The climate is temperate continental, with cold winters (down to –15°C) and hot dry summers (up to +35-40°C).
Poggio a Caiano, Toscana, Italy
The municipal territory of Poggio a Caiano extends for 5,97 square kilometres on the slopes of 
Montalbano, in the valley dell’Ombrone Pistoiese. Its origins go back to 1962 when the districts of Pogetto and Poggio a Caiano were detached from the municipality of Carmignano and made autonomous municipality.
Poggio a Caiano is the most recent and the second to smallest municipality of the region. The locality, already inhabited in the Roman era was important in the Medieval for the presence of a small fort built between the XII and the XIII century by Prato to defend the bridge over the Ombrone, and for the fact of being from XIII to XVIII century the internal gate of Prato, and for being the departure point by river on the Ombrone and the Arno for the barges of the merchants going to Pisa and Livorno.