A WEEKEND visit to Bishopsteignton's twin village in France was 'just perfect'.Nearly 60 crossed the channel to La Roche Maurice in Brittany, and found warm hospitality, fantastic weather and a good balance of organised activities and time to relax.Nine youngsters were among the party, most of them for the first time. Shy at first, they were soon conversing in a mix of French and English with their Breton counterparts.The events included a crepe evening with traditional Breton musicians and dancers, long lunches in restaurants or 'en famille', and everything went without a hitch, thanks to the efforts of the French twinning committee.Brittany is famous for its parish enclosures and few can boast a prettier setting than Guimiliau, a small community near Morlaix, named after Saint Guimiliau, King of Cornwall.After a picnic on the beach at Carantec, the Bishopsteignton twinners and their hosts were whisked across the bay and around the headland by boat, to Chateau du Taureau (The Bull's Castle), originally built in 1542 as a fortress.It has a chequered history, serving as a prison, a summer residence, a German anti-aircraft base in the second world war, and a sailing school, before restoration started in the 1900s.The traditional farewell buffet proved a showcase for home grown talent and, not to be outdone, the Bishopsteignton visitors were soon singing rounds in both French and English.The evening was such a success, the Devon guests are already putting together song sheets for the return visit next May.Numbers on the exchanges have been steadily rising since the first visit in 1990, and this year there was a record turnout.The village twinning committee is thriving, with ever increasing numbers, and welcomes new members. For full details about the Bishopsteignton Twinning Association, contact secretary Carolyn Ansell on 01626 776393.