France » Introduction

Rich History...Amazing Culture. Welcome to France!

Living and studying in France gives students the opportunity to experience first hand the rich history of this diverse country, to be introduced to the innumerable culinary specialties of its regions and to gain a fuller appreciation of what the French call “joie de vivre”.  For nearly 35 years, Oregon students have enjoyed immersion in French culture, language and history through the Poitiers and Lyon exchange programs.  

Study in Lyon

The third largest city in France, Lyon is home to over 1.5 million people.  It is located in a dramatic setting surrounded by hills at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers.  Its location on a major trade route between Northern Europe and Italy made Lyon an important city of the Roman Empire.  During the Renaissance it was a center for humanist scholarship, printing, banking, and the newly-established silk industry.  Lyon continues to grow as an industrial, cultural, and gastronomic center.  Today it is one of France’s most prominent centers for European business.Read more...

Study in Poitiers

Experience life in an ancient city where twenty centuries of Western civilization are still evident in buildings graced by Roman, Medieval, and Renaissance architecture.  Today, Poitiers is a center for education, agriculture, industry and communications.  A university town, it boasts a population of 120,000 and offers students a chance to live in a manageably sized city while still being close to the larger metropolitan centers in France. Read more...

Campus Contact

Additional Resources

• Photos and thoughts from students currently in Lyon
• Lyon Program Handbook
• Poitiers Program Handbook
• France Slideshow
• France Facebook

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An Academic Exchange Program offered by Oregon University System International Programs

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