The manuscript presents a combined experimental/simulation study of the intrinsic strengthening of the material near twin boundaries. Polychromatic X-ray micro Laue diffraction together with electron backscattering diffraction shows that dislocation slippage is suppressed near the twin boundaries. Indentation demonstrates increased hardness in the immediate vicinity of the twin boundary. Distinct slip bands are observed in the interior of the macroscopic similar to 500 mu m thick twin. Fast oscillations of lattice rotations are found within each slip band. Crystal plasticity analysis using a spectral formulation finds a similar dependence of the plastic response of the matrix and the twin depending on their orientation and initial structural conditions. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.