Winter is the ideal season if you want to concentrate on your studies. Certainly, the weather isn’t good every day and temperatures are cool but it only snows a few days per year. Tourists are rare which means you can visit the chateaux in peace and it’s easy to take photographs. In March, the trees are in bloom and it starts to warm up.

The spring is a pleasant season during which we often see more mature students who want to combine their studies with a visit to the region. The tourist season gets under way throughout France but the chateaux are less busy than in summer. Numerous festivals take place in May and June: ‘Aucard de Tours’, a festival of jazz funk, rock, hip hop, rap, French songs, reggae, etc; ‘Vitiloire’, about wine in the region; ‘Jour de Loire’; ‘Le Florilège vocal’, a competition with choirs from around the world; the ‘Rose festivals’; and the classical music festival of the region “Fêtes musicales en Touraine” which has gained an international reputation in the setting of a 12th century grange. At the end of May, the “guinguette” (traditional open-air bar along the Loire River) reopens.

During July and August, people of all ages use their holidays to come to CLE to perfect their French. We don’t offer a ‘holiday course’ because studying is a serious business, but it is true that the teachers give you a bit less homework during these months! In July, you will be able to enjoy many cultural events and festivals. Throughout the summer, activities take place along the banks of the river Loire: concerts, shows, dances, cinemas, restaurants with dancing, etc. In short, you won’t get bored.Don’t worry, the city is not crowded with tourists, nor the school with groups of very young students.

We still have very nice days in September and October. In the Touraine region, this time of year is called ‘The summer of St Martin’. Pleasant bike rides await you! Everything restarts after the summer – concerts, theatres, etc. or you can go to Paris for the weekend to see the new art exhibitions, sights, etc.. This may be the ideal time for an educational vacation.

From the third week of November, you can taste the ‘new’ wines of the region.
In December, the city is lit up for the festivities at the end of the year. Why not do your Christmas shopping in France – in French!