Learn French in Angers, in the Loire Valley

CIDEF (Centre International d’Etudes Françaises)

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Created in 1947, CIDEF is the international center for French studies at the Université catholique de l’ouest (UCO), in Angers, France. The university is one of the oldest universities in western France and offers more than a hundred programs in 6 faculties.

Angers (Typical French city)

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The city of Angers is about one and a half hours by train south of Paris, in the famous valley of the Rive Loire. Surrounded by some of the most beautiful castles in Europe, the city is famous for its gardens and parks that date back to the 14th century and long a mecca for scientists, poets, painters, architects and sculptors.

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Located in the center of the city, the Catholic University of the West (in Angers founded in the 16th century) participates in the rich diversity of summer cultural programs for which the city is known.  Throughout the season concerts, art exhibits, plays, music festivals, lectures, discussions and social gatherings abound. On weekends, organized excursions include visits to the castles of the Loire River, and the famous artistic and historic sites of France including Mont-Saint Michel and Saint-Malo.