Erasmus Experience in Chambéry, France by Alvaro

Why did you choose to go to Chambéry, France?

I chose it for its good location for travelling... 50 minutes on a direct train to Geneva, 2 hours to Turin, 50 minutes to Annecy or to Mont-Blanc... What's more, it's a great city for those who like mountains and lakes. The Bourget du Lac is incredible!

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How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

My scholarship lasted for 6 months, I got money from the CAF for my accommodation in France (the paperwork you need to fill out to get it is terrible, a lot of people just give up on the CAF) and the Erasmus grant (approximately €300 a month, but I still haven't got €1 of that).

What is the student lifestyle like in Chambéry?

There are a lot of Italian students and, of course, students of other nationalities, I love it... There are also some great bars to go out to in the Carré Curial, a space full of night clubs and the O'Cardinal's Irish bar next to the cathedral is great.

Would you recommend the city and the university of Chambéry to other students?

Of course... Although it was a bit hard for me to adapt in the beginning, since nothing is open on Sundays, the city is dead that day... And people have lunch at 12:00 and they have dinner at 19:00.

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What is the food like there?

Delicious fondue, raclette, ratatouille... The Savoyard specialities and the delicious macaroons!

Was it difficult to find accommodation in Chambéry?

Not at all! It's a student city full of flats and residences.

How much does it cost to live in Chambéry?

It's more expensive than Spain. The cheapest beer costs almost €3, the kebabs cost €5 and the shopping centres are twice as expensive as the ones in Spain. Leclerc is the most affordable, although you can still easily spend €100 on three weeks of food.

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Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the university?

French is fine, besides the university offers freer courses for Erasmus students.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Chambéry from your home city?

By plane to Geneva and then a €13-17 train from Geneva to Chambéry, without a doubt. The other option is going to Lyon, but the train from there is more expensive, costing around €26.

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Where would you recommend for a night out in Chambéry?

There are loads of bars to suit all tastes:

• Melodie
• Opera
• O'Cardinals
• O'Pogues

And to eat in Chambéry? What are some of your favourite places to go?

There are so many kebab shops... The Savoyard restaurant has amazing food.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Chambéry is a small city, but the city centre has a lot of charm.

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Do you have any advice for students coming to Chambéry in the future?

If you like mountains, you should come, if you like Switzerland, you should come, if you like cheese, you should come and besides, it's not too cold for a city in Alps.