A gap year in France
Gap years in France
French is one of the UK’s most widely-spoken languages. It’s useful in so many countries – Canada, Reunion, Tahiti, Switzerland, Morocco, Madagascar, even Cambodia – that a gap year in France could be seriously profitable. And if you need another reason to go, here are a few: Paris at night; fresh croissants; and the chance to become a wine connoisseur. Ready to get packing?
Gap Year Opportunities
Learning French is one of the best things you can do on your gap year. This glamorous language can get you into so many places that it is sure to be a life investment. Look for language courses or placements that will help you to develop your A-level skills.
If it’s paid work you’re after, no problem: France has a booming tourist industry and you could find work as a chalet host in the Alps, a receptionist at a camp on the South coast, or a childcare assistant in the more peaceful west. Hunt out the offers that include accommodation so that you can save your wages for the next destination on your list.
If you have an interest in childcare, or experience with children, and you want a place on a language course, you could also consider au pair work. This part-time nanny scheme was designed for young people to give them a solid income whilst they study. You won’t work for more than 5 hours per day, usually stay with your employer in your own quarters, and can expect around £100 per week (for inexperienced nannies).
Getting Around
Outside of the main cities, it can be pleasant to drive in France – quiet roads and wide, open tranquillity characterise the rural regions. In Paris you’re better off using the Metro system, a cleaner, smoother version of the Underground – buy a book of 10 tickets for best-value travel. Every month, the Metro is doused with more than 1.5 tonnes of its bespoke ‘perfume’, a lemony fragrance designed to cover-up the usual subway scent.
For a less-aromatic form of transport, take a train from Paris and explore some of the country’s other cities – celebrity Cannes (shopping heaven), parliamentary Strasbourg (stuffed with fairytale scenery), fortified Carcassone (for a real medieval experience), vino-producing Bordeaux (to take a class at wine school) and riverside Avignon (formerly home to the Pope).
About France
This is the world’s favourite holiday destination. Visited by 75 million people every year, France’s economy is heavily skewed towards tourism and international trade (especially agricultural, industrial and consumable products).
What to see in France
When you’ve admired the Eiffel Tower’s nightly light display, snapped the Arc de Triomphe, seen a show at the Red Windmill and browsed for souvenirs at Montmartre, it may feel like you’ve seen a country. Far from it.
France’s physical geography is enormously varied: from mountain ranges to golden sands and valleys to flat cycle trails, it’s a rewarding place to travel. Flick through a travel guide to find some must-see places for your itinerary – you could spend a year sampling the joys of:
Monaco – where the celebrities are teeny and sunglasses are monstrous.
Burgundy – where you’ll find lots of abbeys and a town named after Chablis (or is it the other way around?)
Limousin – to see picture-postcard scenery and the eerily ruined town of Oradour-sur-Glane.
Southern Pyrenees – for wild hiking and incredible precipices.