We have recently returned from a month-long study abroad experience in Paris, one of the most fascinating European cities and host to the 2024 Summer Olympics. This year’s student-scholars forged new friendships while learning about the language, history, and culture of the City of Light. We in the French section here at Southern hope that they will look back on this transformative experience with a sense of pride and accomplishment for years to come.
Join us as we share with you some of the highlights of this year’s trip.
Our journey began on May 30 with the only major hiccough of the trip: a misplaced phone! Thankfully it was discovered quickly enough not to impact our departure from campus. And since it was the trip leader’s phone — yes, you read that correctly — it was most certainly a moment to model appropriate problem-solving behavior. With the misplaced phone now in hand and a final passport check, we were off to take a late-night flight from New York JFK to Paris Charles-de-Gaulle. Arriving in France on June 1, we passed passport control, collected our luggage, purchased our month-long transportation passes, and took our first ride on the RER B to our stop at Cité Universitaire. After checking in at the Fondation Bienmans-Lapôtre, located on the massive Cité internationale campus in the 14th arrondissement, we headed out to the local grocery store for essentials. To close out the day, we enjoyed dinner at Le Plougastel, a restaurant that specializes in galettes (savory and traditionally made with buckwheat flour) and crêpes (sweet and made with traditional flour). Interestingly, plougastel means strawberry in the Celtic langue of the western region of Bretagne (often called Brittany in English).
During our first week, we started with orientation and a walking tour of iconic landmarks like the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower. We explored historical sites including the Arènes de Lutèce, an ancient Roman amphitheater rediscovered in the 19th Century, and King Philippe-Auguste’s wall, a 12th-century fortification. Visits to the Basilique Saint-Denis, the burial site of French royalty, the Sainte-Chapelle, renowned for its stunning stained glass, and the Louvre, home to countless masterpieces, followed, complemented by a dinner at Le Trumilou, a traditional French restaurant with several regional specialties from the Auvergne.
On June 8, we took an excursion to Provins, a medieval town known for its well-preserved architecture and a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. Other highlights from that week included a walking tour of Pont Neuf or “New Bridge,” but which is now the oldest standing bridge across the river Seine, Place Dauphine, and Les Halles, and a memorable lunch at L’As du Fallafel, where lines often stretch down the street for one of their famous pita sandwiches.
Our adventures continued with ice cream on the Île Saint-Louis and a walking tour of Place des Vosges, the oldest planned square in Paris, followed by a cheese tasting at La Fermette on the fabulous rue Montorgueil. We visited the Grande Épicerie and the Louvre again, followed by dinner at Les Fondues de la Raclette. There, students enjoyed a dinner of raclette, where you melt cheese and then pour it onto boiled new potatoes, charcuterie, and cornichons. We were also joined by a former participant on the trip, who was making his way across the globe before beginning service with the Peace Corps. On June 15, we visited the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, a baroque French château famous, among many things, for inspiring Louis XIV’s Versailles palace. There we enjoyed the gardens, an evening dinner, and finally fireworks before returning to Paris.
The following week we explored local markets such as the Marché des Enfants rouges, the oldest covered market in Paris, and Place d’Aligre/Marché Beauveau, famous for its semi-permanent covered markets as well as its traditional farmers market, where booths overflow with beautiful produce, cheeses, meats, and seafood. We visited the Palais Garnier, a grand 19th-century opera house, and enjoyed dining at L’Atlantide, a Moroccan restaurant specializing in dishes of grilled meats and couscous, as well as slowly cooked dishes using the traditional clay pot called a tajine.
Highlights of the end of our month included a visit to Versailles, the opulent palace of Louis XIV, a trip to Reims where we visited the cathedral, the traditional place where the kings of France were coronated and anointed, as well as a tour where students learned about local food delicacies famous throughout the world. We visited the Musée Carnavalet, dedicated to the history of Paris, and the Louvre again, followed by dinner at Bouillon Racine, a traditional bistro-style restaurant that has recently come back into fashion.
We returned to Le Trumilou for our last group dinner before checking out of our rooms the next morning. We enjoyed one last coffee at our local café and then headed to the airport for an afternoon departure.
This month-long trip offered an immersive experience in Parisian culture, history, and cuisine. From iconic landmarks and historical sites to local markets and culinary delights, each day provided new insights into the history of Paris and unforgettable memories. The blend of structured activities and free days allowed student-scholars to explore Paris both as a group and individually, making this journey a truly enriching experience for all participants.
Until next year! À l’année prochaine!
Learn more about studying French at Southern
Learn more about the university’s short-term faculty-led study abroad programs.
