The party of twenty-seven flew out of Prestwick Airport on Monday bound for their home town of Torcy after marking the 20th anniversary of the twinning arrangement.
Though numbers of those taking part have dwindled over the two decades, there has certainly been no let-up in the levels of enjoyment experienced by both the French visitors and their Scottish hosts alike. And friendships, forged over the years, have been further cemented by the visit.
Highlight of this year's visit was undoubtedly the civic reception hosted by South Ayrshire's Provost, Mrs Winifred Sloan. The visiting party, some resplendent in the kilt, and their hosts were piped off their coach at the County Hall by four pipers from Girvan Juvenile Pipe Band. Entertainment was by the Ayrshire Youth Fiddle orchestra and the formal dinner was a memorable event.
Extending a warm welcome to the guests from Torcy, Provost Sloan who said, "This well established link between our two towns has resulted in many successful visits in the past and I sincerely hope will result in many more in the future.
"We are known the world over for the warm welcome we give our visitors and I also know that visits like these do not just happen. A lot of hard work goes into the planning of these events and I would like to pay tribute to members of the Girvan Town Twinning Association for their time and effort.
"I hope that everyone from Torcy takes home many happy memories of Girvan and South Ayrshire to share with their families and that they will return soon - 'Haste Ye back'".
Less formal, but just as enjoyable was Friday's "pub games" night at Girvan Bowling club. The hotly contested games of darts, dominoes and a beetle drive was a fun-filled affair and the contests were good-humoured for all their intensity.
A buffet supper and the unveiling of a 20th birthday cake, specially designed and baked by Simpson the Bakers of Girvan brought a fine evening to a close.
The French and Scottish Presidents of their respective Town Twinning Associations, Mme Raymonde Fainali and Mr Cameron Dawson did the honours by blowing out the candles on the cake the design of which incorporated the flags of both countries.
Sporting contest again the following day for those golfers in the party who tested the Girvan course. Torcy has only just developed its own 9-hole course so many of the visitors were new to the game. But with a cunning handicap system in place, it was a Frenchman who took the honours.
Other, more leisurely, activities included a day trip to Dean Castle at Kilmarnock where there was great interest in the guided tour of this old Scottish keep which has been taken over by East Ayrshire Council.
All too soon the visit, described by Town Twinning Association secretary Linda Bruce as "outstandingly successful", came to and end.
But, even as the aircraft bound for Beauvais near Paris was heading down the runway at Prestwick Airport, plans were being made for the return trip by the Girvan party to Torcy which will take place during the September weekend.