Ecole des Trois Ponts Reviews 

This is a school that I have attended many times. The passion for helping students learn French language and culture is top notch. Because of the school’s good reputation you will also find yourself among a lively and intelligent group of fellow travelers. I recommend the hiking, history and pastry courses as well as the intensive French course.

It was a wonderful first time experience to be immersed in French language for a week at this school. A very small school but with very good teachers and staff, and we were very well taken care of for both the classes and stay at the premises. Valerie was indeed a professional and she was the best French teacher I ever had. She corrects mistakes and explains why in details, which made my understanding of the language deeper. The school was very friendly and fun too! I would definitely go back, next time with two-week programme! Thank you so much, Valerie!

I spent a week at L’Ecole des Trois Ponts and it was excellent. The professors are all fantastic and Valerie, the Directrice, is very warm and encouraging. The school welcomes all levels and places students based on their ability. I think the maximum number of students in each class is 5 or 6 so very personalized in an intimate setting. The chef, Stéfane, prepared delicious lunches and dinners daily. I highly recommend this school. Immersion is the way to improve your French and this school is absolutely the best.

Ecole des Trois Ponts is my "go-to" French school away from home. It is a chance to be in a place where French is spoken, and I am not judged for making mistakes. I have been going here for many years, and it is a special experience each time. I think of it as my retreat. My French has improved each time, so now I don't sound like a tourist!!

This was my third visit in 2 years and my 4th week at L’École des Trois Ponts. I enjoyed another fabulous week there, practicing French in morning classes, at delicious meals, while hiking in the beautiful countryside 4 afternoons, and while visiting Ambierle, a Village of Character, Wednesday afternoon. Valérie and her team warmly welcomed me. along with three friends from my previous visits. I love coming to L’École each time and look forward to my next visit. My French improves each visit, but more importantly, I see old friends and make new ones from around the world. This is a very special place, where one feels not a tourist in France, but among friends. I highly recommend this wonderful school!

My husband has attended Trois Pont twice and I have 3 times, the last occurring in 2024. My friends ask me why we spend 2 weeks out of 5 in Europe at a school learning French.
Firstly, we both have a passion for the French language and recognise that the more we are immersed in it, the better we will speak it. Trois Pont provides the opportunity for immersion, not only in classes but also during the excellent meals (provided by the in-house chef), in free time and during excursions in the countryside.
In classes, we also learn more grammar, better pronunciation and listening skills under the guidance of excellent teachers. There is also the opportunity to learn from similarly motivated students, many of whom are returning participants.
However, the main thing that makes us want to return is the relaxed, friendly atmosphere of the school. The owner, Valerie, sets the tone and enlists teachers who share her friendly and helpful approach. Highly recommended!

I attended Ecole des Trois Ponts for only a single week in contrast to most persons, whom I later learned sign up for 2-3 weeks. While clearly loved by attendees who repeat this year after year, it was not the best fit for me. Despite my limited comprehension of French, I sought an immersion program of French being spoken fluently by natives rather than an experience of all attendees struggling together to communicate often in a halting manner. I enjoyed visiting the more rural setting as it was quite beautiful and I loved walks into exquisite parks where I encountered natives who could only speak French, an experience which felt authentic. Being vegan I could not enjoy the structured meals with the group where both eating & learning about the varied cheeses were a main component. It was less a cultural immersion for me than I had hoped & felt more like a place where seniors from various countries come to practice speaking French on an annual basis.

The individual classes I signed up for were good but constituted more of a review of my many years of college French than a new approach. I had hoped for more focus on ‘understanding’ the spoken word via conversation, which was a limited part of the experience.

The leaders of this program were most cooperative & lovely to interact with when needed. Clearly there is a devoted group who attend these classes annually making it a rich experience for them to often reconnect year after year. There was much free time when not in class but limited accessibility unless one brought a vehicle to get around. For a self-motivated person who enjoys the slower pace & unstructured experience, this could be an excellent experience. As one who needs the stimulation of a program set within a vibrant city, providing opportunities to interact among abundant native speakers in natural encounters, this was not the best fit for me.

I first heard about L’Ecole de Trois Ponts, a few years ago, from a friend also a French student, where I live in Adelaide, South Australia…While we began to plan our trip with excitement, unfortunately my part in the journey was derailed at that time due to a medical event. My friend went on by herself and reported back to me with encouragement, her time at the school.

Unfortunately it was only this year in September 2024, that life opened this door and I was able, finally, to make the trip.

L’Ecole de Trois Ponts is located in a charming and comfortable home in Riorges, south of Paris and about an hour’s train ride from Lyon…There are separate bedrooms for each student as well as other accommodation options that can be arranged (double rooms, family stay or apartment).

It’s clear that managing a live-in language school, 7 days a week takes a range of significant skills and skilful staff…Clearly Valerie-Manager/Teacher/Tour Guide/Driver/Program Developer and Hostess has the organisational and relationship- building capacity, par excellence, with the help of her competent administrative support, Mariella.

These two, and their additional staff, work together as a solid, capable team, well able to handle the diversity of culture, personality, expectations and needs of students who come here from all over the world…

Valerie is ably supported by a range of personable, perceptive and capable staff… including, but not limited to… teachers, chef, food preparation support, cleaner and caretaker…

Many of the eleven students I met, had come to Trois Pont on multiple occasions. A British woman had made the journey each year for 17 years, for three week periods and returning students often already spoke of plans for their next visit…

Immersive language learning can be a little intense, as each of us welcomed or took on the challenge of speaking French most of each day from 8 am ( breakfast) to 9 ish in the evening.

We had a daily routine, breakfast, lunch and a delicious traditional dinner prepared by the diligent chef… together with 3 hours of French class. My teacher, Camille, taught four students. With a good sense of humour, Camille was discerning and supportive as she developed novel and traditional techniques each day to encourage language learning risks.

In the afternoon, a group of us went for randonées in the picturesque French countryside including small villages, country enterprises and farming communities.

Valerie took every opportunity to further widen our understanding of French rural living, painted by the social, cultural, historical, agricultural and geographical features. These wonderful forays into the country provided ample relaxed time to deepen new friendships in the French language and to balance tradional classes with physical activity in an astonishingly beautiful environment.

Each visit to this school will strengthen your language skills, create new friendships with other francophiles and intensify your understanding of traditional French culture, past and present…L’Ecole de Trois Pont, indeed is a unique and enriching engagement you will muse on for years…

Upon arrival at Ecole des Trois Ponts, one hears only French being spoken by both staff and students. The expectation is to "jump right in" and do your best to speak in French no matter how limited your ability may be. All attempts are encouraged and gently corrected. One learns as much from fellow students as from the excellent Immersion sessions each day.

Excellent program for learning French in a friendly cooperative environment. Being in an immersive program encouraged one to learn from others and to take personal risks to develop confidence and skills.
Supportive and constructive feedback .
Excellent food and living environment and additional opportunities for be involved in other activities and to extend learning opportunities.

Top top teachers, beautiful setting, small groups for learners , delicious food, a strong commitment to providing French language and culture instruction…I stayed 3 weeks and loved every day

Well done to Valerie and her team for another fantastic week at L'Ecole des Trois Ponts. Everything was amazing: the accommodation, the lessons, the food, the walking and the company. Definitely the best week of my year so far and I really hope I can return next year.

This was my second time attending Ecole Trois Ponts. It was like coming home!
I can see why many people return regularly.
I stayed “off campus” this time, as all the school rooms were booked. It was only a short walk to the school where I ate meals.
The instructors were excellent and tailored classes to our learning needs.
The town itself is fairly non-touristy, so there are many opportunities to practice your French skills.
I liked the schedule of meals, classes, time off, etc. and look forward to returning again!

I spent 3 weeks at the ecole in May and June. I had only studied French since January of this year and was a bit nervous coming. The immersion was tough at first and I was glad I learned a little before coming. If I had been a beginner beginner with no French knowledge it would have been too overwhelming. My second week was a beginner week and I would recommend starting with that. I was much more comfortable during that week.

The instruction, especially with Valerie, was excellent. I noticed my comprehension improved a lot even after one week, and the speaking exercises in class really helped my speaking. My goal was to be able to speak basic french for directions or other day to day situations, and I was able to ask for help with metro tickets in Paris and for directions after the school.

Everyone at the school was very friendly and it was wonderful meeting the staff and other students.

The coursework and teachers were fantastic. There was a good balance of grammar, oral expression and verbal comprehension. There was also a very nice collegiality among the participants. I hope to return next year!

After spending a wonderful week at Ecole des Trois Ponts last year, my wife and I returned in May for two equally enjoyable weeks of instruction. The school offers focused and intimate classroom instruction, as well as an immersive experience communicating (in French, of course) with the other students in the program. The instructors are excellent, the classroom experience is fun and well-structured, and the ambiance at the school makes it easy to feel like we are in a supportive environment among friends and family.

We loved the fact that this is a residential program, with meals prepared and provided on site. Mealtimes are interesting and enjoyable, with the chef present to provide detail about the meal, and specifics on the three cheeses served each evening (name, region of origin, and method of slicing,… which is critical information for travelers to France).

In addition to the basic curriculum, students may sign up for added activities, such as French cooking or baking lessons. My wife and I both opted for intensive French, which was a one on one session with an instructor, and which we found very useful.

The school is located in the Rhone Alps very near the town of Roanne. This is a lovely region, and the school site is very close to lovely hiking trails through Parc Beaulieu and beyond.

We highly recommend Ecole des Trois Ponts for its excellent quality of education, small class size, and its wonderful atmosphere. It offers valuable insight into the nuances of the French language, but more importantly provides a window into the mysteries of French culture.

This place was a truly special and unique place. The staff and teachers were so welcoming and accommodating. The proprietress/teacher Valerie made every effort to ensure that each and every student received exactly what they came for: French instruction and camaraderie in a comfortable, nurturing environment.
I stayed in my own room on site. It was very clean and comfortable. Dining together in the kitchen was thoroughly enjoyable: good food, plenty of delicious wine, and yummy baguettes and local cheese. Breakfast and lunch were also delicious.
I participated in the cooking class held 4 afternoons with Chef Pierre. It was an absolute delight! The 6 of us in the group prepared the evening meal. Thanks to Chef Pierre's creativity and planning, the meals were always different, and quite impressive. He broke things down into manageable steps, and I believe all meals were a success! We were rewarded with a certificate at the end of class!
The teachers were all fantastic! When they arrived in the morning, it was like they brought the sunshine! Lots of smiles and good energy! My teacher, Sylvie was wonderful. She set a good tone, and provided a balance of completing structured lessons and allowing time to wander off on tangents and get to know each other better. Mostly she provided a nurturing and caring environment in which to learn. Brava Sylvie!
A special shout-out to the lovely Moroccan woman Mounia, who handled the cleaning duties. She was so sweet and always eager to get you anything you needed, with a big smile and "bien sur"!
In closing, we became a family in the short time we were there. It was such a comfortable and supportive environment in which to improve my French and make new friends. I hope to return.

I loved everything about this school. The classes are small and, both weeks I was there, the students were supportive and great fun to learn with and spend time with. The staff are all exceptional and make it easy to feel at home, while soaking in not only as much French language as possible but learning about French culture, taking beautiful countryside hikes, and feasting on delicious cuisine and wine. The teaching is superb (Camille and Valérie, the Director, are so gifted). The teaching is tailored to meet you where you are and help you quickly improve your French. I can't wait to return!

As there was a large disparity between my wife and I in terms of our knowledge of French, the school placed us accordingly with excellent teachers. The lesson plans were well-organized at the advanced level. As with most other language programs in France, the focus was on conversation with review of grammatical specifics as needed. Since the school is smaller and more intimate than other schools I have attended in France, our class consisted of a total of 6 students. The class sizes generally range from 4-6 students I believe.
My wife did have a private instructor at the beginner level which was fortuitous.
Certain sessions will accommodate beginners but as with most full immersion French schools, it is much better to arrive with basic proficiency as French is spoken almost exclusively at the school. There are afternoon cooking classes for those who wish to participate, cultural tours as well as added private and semi-private language classes. A well-balanced schedule which allows the student to customize their experience. It was my impression that most students spend from 1 - 2 weeks at the school.
The food & wine was excellent. They have a dedicated chef on staff who prepares both lunch and dinner. Traditional breakfast awaits each morning before class as well.
Accommodations at the school were more than adequate and enhanced the intimate feeling of the school. After having traveled throughout France for the past 40 years, I had never visited Lyon and the surrounding region. I was impressed with both and strongly suggest spending several days exploring the area. Roanne is not generally thought of as a tourist destination, but the town is extremely pleasant and has a shopping district within walking distance. There are also nice walking paths that start within a 5-minute walk from the school.
The famous Troisgros three-star Relais et Chateaux restaurant is only a 10-minute drive located in Ouches for those in need of a gastronomique experience which is possibly one of the best in France. I highly recommend this wonderful school.
Steve Kaiser

I just spent three weeks at Ecole des Trois Ponts - my third visit to the school. As before, I felt very much at home and really enjoyed my time there. In addition to the classes, I signed up for the countryside walks and Wednesday afternoon excursions which allowed me to visit parks and villages that I would not have been able to see on my own. On arrival, a student's knowledge of the language is evaluated and it is so beneficial to be in a class with others on the same level. I also took very helpful one-on-one lessons with a teacher. Probably the best part of the experience is the camaraderie with the other students and the team at the school. Valérie has a real talent for hiring only the best and for making every student feel welcome. I look forward to my next visit to Ecole des Trois Ponts.