French Studies in the Arts, Language, Culture, Sports and Recreation
A dazzling coastline stretching from Nice to the small harbor town of Beaulieu-sur-Mer exemplifies the best of the French Riviera. The bustling beaches, lush palm trees, colorful buildings, and alluring markets make it hard not to get swept up in this chic lifestyle. During your month abroad in Nice you are sure to get a taste of this fine standard of living. On any given day you’ll stroll through the city’s famous Promenade des Anglais on your way to morning classes, practice your French while ordering refreshments in one of the many outdoor cafés, and blend in with the locals as you browse the open-air markets of the city’s Old Town district. In fact, after four weeks of living amongst the locals you may find yourself feeling a little, if not very, glamorous indeed.
Residential Life
Making new friends and learning to be a confident, independent young person is one of the best parts of completing a study abroad program. During your month in France we make sure this is a focal point of the residential experience. Along with your program peers and staff, you will live just steps away from Nice’s picturesque Vieux Port and the lively markets and restaurants of Vieux Nice in a modern student residence. Our location makes discovering the city as simple as walking out your front door! Everyone on the program gets their own studio-style room equipped with a bedroom, kitchenette, private bathroom, and internet access, so to continue in the tradition of Riviera glamour you’ll have the luxury of your own space while enjoying the company of all your new friends living next door to you.
Daily Schedule
When imagining what your summer in Nice will be like think of the program in terms of weekdays versus weekends: Monday through Friday you will take classes, hang out with friends, enjoy meals in the residence, and explore the city through group activities. Your French language class meets every morning while your pre-selected elective meets on a tri-weekly basis. This frees up two afternoons per week to try things like parasailing, sea kayaking, ceramics, beach volleyball, to visit a new exhibit or to simply enjoy an afternoon treasure hunt in the local markets. On weekends the schedule shifts as we tour the surrounding region. Your program staff has pre-planned excursions and day trips so that Saturdays and Sundays are your opportunity to get “out” and explore (and also sleep in a little if needed).
Day Trips
Nice is quite literally surrounded by some of the most beautiful sites in France; rest assured we won’t let you go home without seeing as many of them as possible! Be prepared to wonder at Picasso’s master works in incredible Antibes and bask in the opulence of Monte Carlo with its princely palace and its storied casino. Prepare yourself for a journey back in time during our exploration of the medieval perched village of Saint Paul de Vence and be transported further still as we tantalize our senses at Fragonard Parfumerie located in the picturesque village of Èze. We may even skip over the border into Italy for a visit to Ventimiglia for pizza and gelato!
Optional Travel Extension – Paris
Ah, Paris! The city of lights! Delicious food, fantastic art, amazing architecture, the list goes on and on. A four-day visit to Paris is the perfect way to complete an Abbey Road adventure in France. Our exciting itinerary includes both guided visits to museums and historical sites and time for you to discover the city’s famous neighborhoods. Sure we will show you the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the Centre Pompidou, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower, among others, but you will also be free (within our safety guidelines) to enjoy the city’s famous café scene and shopping districts with your good friends in tow. Who knows, you just might even take a dinner cruise on the river Seine!
