Learn French in Montpellier and you will get the chance to immerse yourself into the French language and culture. You will be able to discover the South of France by taking part in the cultural activities we offer at our French language immersion school in Montpellier, by taking part in our excursions. Avignon, the famous ‘cité des Papes’ (City of the Popes), just one hour away from Montpellier, is a real must for cultural tourism and language immersion.
Your excursion to Avignon will start with a panoramic view of the fantastic urban landscape from the ‘Espace Jeanne Laurent’. You will be able to admire the different monuments that make up the unique architectural work that is classed under UNESCO (World heritage sites). Then you will get to dance, as the song says (and if you choose to do so!) on the famous ‘pont d’Avignon’ (Avignon’s bridge). The famous legend that speaks of the reasons why you would dance on it will be explained to you during the guided tour.
A French language course in Montpellier is also a cultural holiday, during which you will be able to gather long lasting memories of the South of France! Discover the unique atmosphere and the imposing sights of the world UNESCO site Avignon.
You will then be able to go to the ‘Rocher des Doms’ from where you will get a breath-taking view; this really is a nice place for an unmissable walk in Avignon and a place that has been visited for many years.
Avignon is also famous for its annual theatre festival that was founded in 1947 by Jean Vilar and which takes place in July every year all over the town, sometimes even in the most unlikely places. If you come to study French at our French language school in Montpellier during the summer, you really must go there; this four-week festival creates an incredible atmosphere in the town with posters stuck everywhere to advertise the different shows.
It is undeniably the biggest artistic and theatrical living show in France, it is a good and original way of immersing yourself in French culture when you come to learn French with residential French courses in the South of France.
But Avignon wouldn’t be the same without its magnificent ‘Palais des Papes’ (Palace of the Popes), symbolising the influence the church used to have on Western Christians during the 14th Century. You will get to see this during the excursion. This monument was built by the popes who ended up creating the biggest gothic palace in the world!
During your free time after the guided visit, you should cease the opportunity to wonder down the quaint little roads in the town or even visit the inside of the famous ‘Palais des papes’ and its wonderfully decorated rooms covering 1,500 m2: you will be left speechless!
You will also see that Avignon is a shrine for initiation to Provencal cuisine: French Chefs, some of them starred by the Michelin guide, create traditional dishes and also more innovative ones that you can savour in charming local restaurants.
The shopkeepers in “les Halles”, the oldest indoor market in Avignon, have Provencal specialities for you to try all year round together with locally made products referred to as coming from the “terroir francais”. You won’t have experienced an atmosphere like this before.
Finally, did you know…? Avignon has been the capital of the “Côtes de Rhône” wine since 1996!
Excursions are an excellent way to learn French during your French language stay whilst also giving you the chance to have a really wonderful time. You will be able to meet other students during your French residential course at our French language immersion school and you will be left with fond memories of your trip to the South of France that you will never forget!