Biot
France
Sister City Since 2012
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Most Sister Cities are tied to Tacoma either by common geography, size, or economy. In the case of Biot, the two cities’ commonalities are glass art.
Huguette Marsicano, a Tacoma resident and also a native of southern France where Biot is located near the French Riviera, recognized the significance that a bond between Tacoma and Biot would have and set out to form a Tacoma-Biot Sister City committee back in 2012.
Besides traditional sister-city programs such as student exchanges and trips, the Tacoma-Biot Sister City Committee has organized exchanges of artists and exhibits to promote the art of glass blowing, the raison d’être of this joining, as well as additional synergies going beyond the glass connection.
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Our Current Committee Chair:
Catherine Sarnat, Real Estate Developer
Past chairs and vice-chairs:
Agnes Jensen, Christopher Porter, Gwen Porter.
Founder and past chair:
Huguette Marsicano
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About Biot
Biot is a picturesque and popular medieval village that’s actually about 2500 years old. It sits on a hilltop only 4 km from the Mediterranean beaches between Nice and Antibes.Shady alleys, picturesque vaults, flowered “calades” and stone buildings outline Biot’s authentic character. With its sunny terraces, gourmet restaurants, artist galleries, refined boutiques, Biot offers real moments of pleasure.Biot enjoys a remarkable artistic legacy thanks to artists such as Fernand Léger, whose work is exhibited in a dedicated national museum at the foot of Biot village; Éloi Monod, originator of Biot’s bubble glass tradition; and Raymond Peynet, who chose Biot to bring his “Lovers” alive. In 1997, Biot earned the “Arts and Crafts City” label for its glass crafts, symbolizing both its know-how and traditions.Since 1956, Biot has been renowned in the world of glassblowing. Its specialty: bubble glass and the technique developed by the engineer Éloi Monod, who then trained an entire generation of craftspeople and artists. Today, glass art works have not only forged the reputation of the village but are also its pride.