French language courses in Paris

Famous for its rich history, beautiful architecture and cultural diversity, Paris remains one of the most visited cities in the world.
Paris has always been a hive of artistic and intellectual activity with its 134 museums, 170 theatres, world famous universities and cultural festivals, which take place all year round.
Paris is also of course the capital of fashion and design and internationally renowned for its boutiques, department stores and young designers.

   

One of the monuments decided by Napoleon I, the Arc de Triomphe offers an admirable perspective of Paris and the twelve avenues converging to it in a star shape.

    Les Invalides








Situated along an immense esplanade, the « Hôtel des Invalides » was founded by Louis XIV for wounded servicemen. It houses several museums, including the « Musée de l'Armée », and the tomb of Napoléon I.
Subway station : Invalides

    La Madeleine



Formerly a monumental tribute to Napoleon's army, La Madeleine - constructed to resemble a Greek temple - also served as the first railway station of Paris before it became a church in 1842. Also hosts a few concerts.
Subway station : Madeleine

    Montmartre and the Sacré-Coeur





The old village of Montmartre was home-quartier to cubists Braque, Picasso, and Juan Gris. Today you'll find throngs of sidewalk artists in this picturesque area, as well as intimate cafes, lovely homes and gardens, and the nearby Moulin Rouge cabaret. At the top of the Montmartre hill visit the famous Sacré-Cœur. This Byzantine-style basilic dates from the 19th century and was completed in 1914. From there you have a fantastic panoramic view of the capital !
Subway station : Anvers

    Opéra Garnier




Built in 1860 by Charles Garnier in the classical architectural style of the Second Empire, the Opera is one of the largest theatres in the world. The ceiling was decorated by Chagall.
Subway station : Opera

    Parc de Bagatelle




Bagatelle was originally just a small house bought by the Maréchal d'Estrées in 1720. Soon afterwards transformed into a luxurious small castle, it became a location for festivities. Miraculously spared during the Revolution, the park was then extended and transformed into the Jardin Napoléon III in the second half of the XIXth century.
Subway station : Porte Maillot

    Jardin des Plantes

The garden was created following the completion of the work of XVIth century botanists. In 1577 the apothecary Nicolas Houel founded the Maison de la Charité Chrétienne (House of Christian Charity) with a "garden of simple plants", the first botanical gardens in Paris.
Subway station : Austerlitz / Jussieu

    Jardin des Tuileries



The Tuileries gardens occupies an area of 25 hectares in the heart of Paris, between the Carrousel du Louvre, the place de la Concorde and the banks of the Seine. It was commissioned by Catherine de Médicis but the present layout of the formal garden (1664) is attributable to Le Nôtre. There are two famous buildings in the Tuileries : the Orangery and the Musée du Jeu de Paume.
Subway station : Palais-Royal

    Parc des Buttes Chaumont


Situated on one of the hills inside the French capital, this Park, idea of Napoleon III, has been the scene of bloody fightings. For example, in 1814, at the end of the French campaign, the national guard and the marine artillery fought a desperate battle against the assaults of the Prussians, before surrendering. Discover the lake, and climb till the top of the hill to see Paris !
Subway station : Buttes-Chaumont

    Parc Montsouris

Another vast, peaceful and beautiful park, developed during the Second Empire, to be part of a plan designed by Napoléon III and Baron Haussmann to give Paris large green areas at its four cardinal points.
Subway station : RER « B », station Cité-Universitaire

    Parc Georges Brassens

Opened to the public in 1984, this new park was given the name of the celebrated French poet and singer Georges Brassens, who lived close by, at the 42 rue Santos-Dumont. Other artists, such as the sculptor Zadkine and the painter Fernand Léger also lived in this parisian « quartier ».
Subway station : Convention

    Père Lachaise Cemetery






Of the 20 cemeteries of Paris, the « Père-Lachaise » is the most famous, and also the biggest park in Paris. Opened in 1804, it receives two million visitors a year. Hundreds of famous artists (Edith Piaf, Jean de la Fontaine, Molière, Oscar Wilde, Balzac, Proust, Delacroix, Sarah Bernhardt, Yves Montand, Chopin,…), scientists and politicians are buried here and visitors can admire the many tombs built by well-known architects.
The most visited tomb, however, is that of The Doors lead singer, Jim Morrison, who died in Paris in 1971.
Subway station : Pere-Lachaise

    Montmartre Cemetery

The Montmartre cemetry, almost as vast and as famous as Père Lachaise, was created in 1798, closed down and then reopened in 1831. Many illustrious personalities such as Alfred de Vigny, Stendhal, Offenbach and Degas are buried here.
Subway station : Blanche