For nearly 1,000 years, the abbey of Pontlevoy has been a place of learning. Its famous cathedral was built by monks before the time of Columbus. Celebrated novelists, explorers, war heroes and even Presidents of France were marked for leadership within these ancient walls. Now it’s your turn.

The Village is a study-abroad program nestled among the lush vineyards and broad rivers of the Loire Valley. You can explore Roman ruins a short bike ride away from your dorm. Tour the great castles of French kings—the chateaux whose opulence make the Loire Valley among the most popular tourist destinations on the planet. Every day you’ll witness the cavalcade of history and art that is Pontlevoy’s bedrock.

You’ll also travel far from your new home as your semester develops. You’ll spend a week living and learning in Paris. Then you’ll follow a carefully planned journey, a personal “Vision Quest” that’s required of all The Village students, which will give you the opportunity to independently explore Europe.

Academics
Be prepared. The Village’s immersive, liberal arts, honors-based curriculum will confront you with some of the most challenging questions of your entire university experience. You will grapple with the forces that shaped modern Europe and continue to define life around the globe.

At The Village, you’ll study history where history was made. Where better to discuss court society and Renaissance architecture than in the shadows of legendary Chateau Chenonceau? Could there be a better place to learn about D-Day than the beaches and villages where it all happened? The same intensity and immediacy are part of our art history and literature classes. Learning is active and constant. Never taken a train to class? You will on The Village. Because sometimes just getting to class is part of The Village adventure.

Can you study at The Village if you don’t speak French? Absolutely. All courses are taught in English. French is also taught at all levels, and you’ll be amazed how quickly you’ll learn the language when you immerse yourself in the culture.

Location
No country is more popular with global travelers than France, and no part of France gets more visitors each year than the Loire Valley, home of The Village and the village of Pontlevoy.

Each year we ask students what they love best about this farming community. They talk about the picturesque cobblestone streets and ancient church steeples. The warmth of the people. The relaxed rhythms of life. Most say their desire to learn French burned brighter than they ever anticipated. It just feels right to say “Un café s’il vous plait” when you’re ordering breakfast at Café le Commerce.

Abbey students use their immersive experience as a baptism in global awareness. In whatever way it happens for you, The Village will awaken the global citizen inside you, starting with just one village.

ParisWEEK and Road Courses
During ParisWEEK and your Road Course’s second week–split between time in Amsterdam and another European city–you’ll stay at a center city hostel or hotel, like St. Christopher’s Inn, a newly renovated international hostel located a block from metro stop Crimée on line 7. The specific hostel may change from year to year, but The Village’s housing for these excursions usually features:

Shared rooms, separated by gender, for groups of 3-10 persons
Convenient access to public transportation
Bathrooms in the hall
WiFi in the hostel lobby and often in the student rooms
Security desk and English speaking staff
On-site bar, café and restaurant
Free breakfast (other meals not included)