Located barely 10km from the Franco-German border as the crow flies, Lahr has for decades maintained very good relations with its neighbors, especially France.

Lahr is a member of the cross-border ”Vis-à-Vis” joint local authority, one of the first of its kind. This replaced the Erstein/Obernai - Lahr/Kinzigtal interest group which even ran for several decades. The joint local authority has for many years run its own cross-border bus route.

Lahr also lies within the region established by French President Chirac and former German Chancellor Schröder, which is intended to set the standard for the whole of Europe. "Eurodistrict"

Many people commute from neighboring Alsace to jobs in Lahr. A brisk “shopping trade” also exists. Many residents on the Baden side of the Rhine make use of the proximity of Alsace to shop for French specialties such as wines, cheeses, baguettes, etc. In the opposite direction, the Alsatians come across to take advantage of the lower food prices and to visit Lahr city center.

Pupils at Lahr’s schools can benefit from a diverse school exchange program which also involves cross-border exchanges with schools in France.

As well as these cross-border activities, Lahr has had traditionally good relations with its sister-cities of Dole and Belleville.