Chambery, France?
 

Hi! I was wondering if anyone knows anything about Chambery. We have been to Paris, but never anywhere else in France. My daughter who is in college, is thinking about going to Chambery in the summer of 2008 for a six week French intensive study abroad. Chambery is the only place in France that offers this for students at their college to learn French intensively. Otherwise, she could have gone to Paris or Normandy had she been fluent. Anyway, I am a little concerned about Chambery in the summer. It seems to be more of a winter ski town. We loved Paris with all the restaurants, culture and nightlife. We live in Connecticut in the suburbs so we don't exactly have to have the city at our doorstep, but I am wondering if this town is just a little too quiet and small for her even just for six weeks. Are there things to see besides ski slopes (restaurants, nightlife, etc.., especially in the summer. Please help! We have to send in the study abroad application soon!

I think you are confusing Chambery and Chamonix.
There are no ski slopes in Chambery, the nearest one is aobut 80 km away.

Here is the official web site : http://www.mairie-chambery.fr/anglais/anglais/index.htm

Thanks for the info and the website as well!

Chambery is a very enjoyable city. Lots of students, & it's quite active in the summer. Interesting architecture. Good train access. We took the TGV train there from Provence (via Valence), and then on to Lyon - which has excellent TGV access to Paris, Burgundy (Dijon), & other places in France.

Get the Michelin Green Guide to the French Alps & read about it.

Stu Dudley

Just saw your other post. No need to travel any farther than France. We spend 2 months there every year, and have been doing so since '99 (only yearly 3-week trips before that to France & elsewhere in Europe). Chambery has excellent access to Lyon, where you can get to many other interesting places in France by train & not spend a whole lot of money doing so. However, the best part of France, IMO, is the countryside, which is best visited by car. You could spend several weeks in Provence (rent a house with a pool, multiple bedrooms & baths for less than $1,000 per WEEK), then up to Burgundy for a week, then on to Alsace for a week, then drive through the Alps, then to Chambery.

Endless possibilities.

Stu Dudley

As one who did an 6-week intensive language study myself in 2004, a small town away from English speakers will benefit her the most. She will have a great time and learn lots!

Thanks again everyone. My daughter and I are now very excited and now know she is doing the right thing. I think we will head over there around two weeks or so before she starts school and visit some of the places you guys mentioned since getting around seems to be so easy! Yeah, a trip for mom too!