French Immersion in Béarn (France) in April 2025
Oloron Sainte Marie, near Pau
Discover the Béarn région in the Pyrénées Atlantique with our favourite guides Patrick & Robbie from Pyrénées Tours, who will take us on an unforgettable 9-day all-in-French immersion in which you can strengthen your French skills while learning about local culture, gastronomy and traditions of the region.
Dates
Wednesday 9th April to Thursday 17th April 2025
French Level
This immersion is open to participants with a B1 level minimum. All activities, classes and meals will be conducted in French only. Participants are expected to communicate in French only throughout the entire immersion. It is tiring, but very rewarding, trust us!
Contact us if you're not sure of your level.
The Béarn Region
Béarn is a historical region of south-west France that now forms the eastern part of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department (the western part of the department is the three provinces that make up the French Pays Basque region).
The region has a very long history, and was an independent province before it became a French province in 1620. 2000 years ago it was occupied by a tribe called the Benarni, which is where the name Béarn comes from.
The principal town is Pau, which has several buildings of interest and a pleasant town centre, and is best known for the boulevard that has far-reaching views to the Pyrénées about 40 kilometres to the south.
Accommodation
Alysson Hotel
24 Boulevard des Pyrénées, 64400 Oloron-Sainte-Marie
Website
Room types
Privilege Room
Very comfortable room, with a modern design, located in the main part of the establishment, which can be with a double bed or 2 beds. 28m²
Open bathroom with large walk-in shower, air conditioning, free wifi system, free entry to the gym. Privatized spa and sauna (15 euros/30 minutes/pers)
Junior Suite
(Supplement applies / Limited availability - contact us for more information)
Spacious new room, located in the main part of the establishment. Very comfortable room for 1 or 2 people, with a modern and top-of-the-range design, which can be with a double bed or 2 beds. Sofa for additional person possible. Bathroom with very large walk-in shower and 2-seater whirlpool bath. Air conditioning, wifi system, welcome tray with kettle. 42m²
Language Classes
The goal of this immersion is to give participants an opportunity to develop and strengthen their ability to communicate effectively in French, in a region famous for its gastronomy, geography and its history: Pyrénées Atlantique.
Your stay includes 12h of goal-oriented lessons focused on French communication – to increase your grammatical knowledge and vocabulary using authentic documents and sources. The format of the lessons is divided between a “classical” style every other morning and a less formal setting for the rest of the time.
Classes will take place in the hotel conference room.
Programme
Wednesday 9th April
Participants will be met at Pau railway station at 14.30 and transported by coach to the hotel in Oloron. This is the arrival time of the TGV 8572 from Paris which departs Montparnasse at 10.04. Details and timetable will be confirmed a few months before the start of the tour. [Train tickets not included in package]. The afternoon will be free to relax and explore the village. Welcome drinks followed by dinner at the hotel.
Thursday 10th April
Class in the morning. Lunch in Laas followed by a visit to the Laas chateau and garden. Dinner at the hotel.
Friday 11th April
Free time during market day in Oloron with lunch and tasting of the Jurançon wine at a vineyard. Dinner at the hotel.
Saturday 12th April
Class in the morning. Lunch in the Valley d’Ossau followed by a visit to live camera vulture viewing. Dinner at the hotel.
Sunday 13th April
Visit a goat farm, lunch in Aydius and then to the Oloron Cathedral. Dinner in a nearby restaurant.
Monday 14th April
Class in the morning with lunch in a local auberge followed by a game of Pétanque. Dinner at the hotel.
Tuesday 15th April
Visit to the Chateau de Pau with lunch and free time to explore the city. Dinner at the hotel.
Wednesday 16th April
Class in the morning, light lunch nearby with free time in the afternoon to pack before farewell drinks and dinner at the hotel.
Thursday 17th April
The bus will take all the participants to Pau railway station to catch the 10.04 TGV 8580 for Paris, Montparnasse.
Details and timetable will be confirmed a few months before the start of the tour. [Train tickets not included in package].
Price
Individual Room: AU$7,390
Shared Room: AU$7,030
Please note that spots are available on a first come, first served basis. We cannot hold nor guarantee a spot without deposit.
Good to know
- A get-together for participants coming on this tour will be held in Bowral on the 2nd of February 2025.
- During this tour, walking to and from activities is necessary, and walking mobility will be required.
- All participants must have travel insurance. We strongly recommend they purchase travel insurance as soon as they have paid any deposit or any travel arrangements.
- All participants must include travel insurance information with their final payment, a signed accident waiver and release of liability form, supplied by Pyrenees Tours.
What's included
- 4x 3hrs French lessons by a French a la Carte teacher
- All transports to and from activities during the immersion
- All meals as described above
- Accommodation and breakfasts
- All activities as described above
- Wine-tasting at Lugny or Mancey (or different places)
- Wine is included with all the sit-down meals but if the wines are not to your liking, you are free to purchase something different at your own expense. The quantity of the wine served will be sufficient to accompany the meals
- Group Transfers from Pau train station at the day and times described above (To be confirmed)
What's not included
- Airfares, train transportation, taxes, passport fees, visas
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Any personal expenses during the whole stay
- Tips
- All expenses which do not appear in expenses included in the price
Payment schedule
- A non-refundable deposit of $1,200 is required to secure your booking. Bookings will ONLY be confirmed upon reception of the full deposit, on a first come, first served basis.
- The final payment of the remainder is due by the 9th of January 2025.
Terms & Conditions
I Our responsibility
It is our responsibility to ensure that tour activities have been organised as stated in the program. It is also our right to alter the itinerary, if necessary, in the event of unforeseen circumstances. Any extra costs resulting from these alterations will not be our responsibility.
No responsibility will be accepted for any delays occurring during the tour. It is at our discretion to stop any person from participating in any of the activities should they not have the required level of fitness or mobility on any particular day.
II Cancellation
By the organisers: If the tour needs to be cancelled, due to member of the group cancelling and resulting numbers being below the minimum number of 12 participants, after the 8th of January, no deposit will be refunded to any participant who made the late cancellation. Other participants deposits will be refunded.
Cancellation Policy: All cancellations must be made in writing to French à la Carte
- If cancellation occurs earlier than 70 days prior departure, an admin fee of $500 will be retained.
- If cancellation occurs between 70 to 45 days prior departure, 30% of the cost will be refunded, unless you are able to find someone to take your spot.
- No refunds are available if cancellation occurs less than 44 days before departure, unless you are able to find someone to take your spot.
III Responsibility of participants
It is the responsibility of the participant to organise and pay for all travel documents, i.e. passports, visas, tickets, insurance, departure tax. All participants need travel insurance. The participants will be responsible for any injury, sickness, loss, or damage that might occur.
If any participant wishes to alter the itinerary in any way, all resulting costs and organisation will be his/her responsibility. It is the responsibility of the participant to be at the point of pick-up as specified and at the time specified. If this is not possible it is the participant's responsibility to rejoin the tour at his/her own expense.
IV Organization
The organization of the course, the activities on the schedule and the itinerary may be subject to change without notice due to act of God, local circumstances and weather.
We contract with a range of third parties and individuals. To the best of our knowledge, the different third parties who will assist us during the course are qualified to perform the duties they are contracted to perform. Château de Joudes Saint Amour will not be held liable for injury, damage, loss, delay or irregularity that may occur due to the behaviour of these third parties.
Contact & more info
info@frenchalacarte.com.au
0400 141 370