Tours, my second home!

Why did you choose to go to Tours, France?

It was the only city available in France so I didn't have much choice.

I am very happy because if there were other big cities I would probably never have seen Tours and it is a wonderful place for your Erasmus experience.

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

There is no scholarship and no books to buy.

Anyway, there is the CROUS - an association that pays you more or less half of your rent anywhere you live during your stay in Tours (private house, campus or hostel).

What is the student lifestyle like in Tours?

Tours is a student city. Except for Sundays, every night in the city center there is an event or a promotion for students. Every month there is an Erasmus night where it's possible to meet other Erasmus students but also French students who want to meet some foreign people and help you enter the french lifestyle.

The University life isn't too hard, the final test is often the result of a project you did with other French students. This also allows you to create a large network of friends.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Tours to other students?

Of course I recommend Tours to every student that wants to live a fantastic Erasmus experience.

It is a small and nice city by the river and in the middle of the famous French castles. This allows you to get to know a lot of young people and go on unexpected trips during the weekend throughout the history but also the modernity of cities like Paris or Orleans that are really close to Tours.

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What is the food like?

The French food is really delicious but also particular so for some people isn't so easy to love it at first.

Anyway, in Tours there are a lot of shops and restaurants that offer food from all over the world like Italian, Greek, Spanish and so on. There are also all the most important fast food with the standard international food. For a real French meal, I recommend you Le Patacrêpe and Mamie Bigoude but there are also a lot of small fantastic French restaurants in Tours.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Tours?

The university is really kind to Erasmus students. They receive hundreds of them each year so they know how to handle them.

Before you arrive in Tours, they send you all the accommodation options from which you have to choose so when you arrive in France you already know where to go and you already have a place to spend the night.

How much does it cost to live in Tours?

Tours have a medium cost of life, not too expensive but not really cheap.

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

The university offers you a language course that you can attend the week before the lessons start or during your whole stay in Tours. It is a paid course but at the beginning is good to know new Erasmus students in town. If you are not so good in French you will learn a lot because the course is well structured.

As I have said the university but also all the people in Tours are used to foreign people who come to visit the city or to study so if you have problems with the language they will help you. This is really important at the beginning of your Erasmus experience.

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

From Italy the easiest way is by plane. You arrive in Paris at Charles de Gaulle and then take a train (TGV) to Tours. The earlier you book your flight and your train, the cheaper they will be.

Another way is by train from Italy. It is a very long trip but you arrive direct at Tours and you can bring all your luggage.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Tours?

Place Plum is the only place where you can go if you want to find some young people. There are clubs and pubs and it's a fantastic place.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Tours?

Mamie Bigoude in Place Plum, Le Patacrêpe near Technopôle, Kumpir next to Place Plum and all the brasseries you can find in the city center (Jean Jaures).

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What good cultural sites are there to visit?

All the castles near the city (Château de Chenonceau, Amboise or Château de Chambord) and if you can go to Paris there are a lot of interesting museums (Le Louvre, for exemple). The University organizes a trip every week to a cultural place with an average cost of 10 euros.

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Tours in the future?

Have fun and try La Fée Rouge. It's a typical alcoholic shot made with pepper and Absynth. When you drink it you became a real Tours person.

If you want more advice don't hesitate to contact me. I will be glad to help you. My e-mail address is mersi. [email protected].