Poly GIP French Exchange

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Mercredi 1er avril: Le Chateau de Versailles et le poisson d'avril

One last day in France...

Our final day began early as we set off for our visit to the magnificent Château de Versailles, sandwiches in hand for the journey ahead. After about an hour on the RER, we arrived to a misty and chilly Versailles, which gave the palace an almost mysterious atmosphere.

We began our exploration of the château by visiting the chapel and the royal apartments, tracing the evolution of the palace through the reigns of Louis XIV, Louis XV, and Louis XVI. Students were fascinated by how each monarch expanded and transformed the palace into the symbol of absolute monarchy we know today.

One of the highlights of the visit was standing before the monumental painting The Coronation of Napoleon, created by Jacques-Louis David between 1805 and 1807. Covering an entire wall, the painting left students in awe with its scale and detail.

They also recognized the breathtaking ceiling paintings by Charles Le Brun, whose work defines much of Versailles’ grandeur. As the principal artist of Louis XIV, Le Brun orchestrated the decorative program of the palace, including the iconic Hall of Mirrors, where every detail glorifies the achievements of the King.

After our visit inside, we enjoyed a well-deserved picnic before strolling through the magnificent gardens designed by André Le Nôtre. Students admired the symmetry, the fountains, and the famous Grandes Eaux, bringing the gardens to life despite the gray skies.

As the rain began to fall, we made our way back to the hotel to prepare our luggage for the journey home. In true French spirit, the girls surprised Madame Maillet with a poisson d’avril, joking that their suitcases were over 25 kilos, causing a moment of (almost) panic and lots of laughter!

Tonight, we feel a mix of emotions. As we reflect on these past ten unforgettable days—filled with cultural discoveries, meaningful exchanges, and shared memories. We now realize how special this journey has been for everyone.

Au revoir la France… et à bientôt!

Zara et Anna:

Bonjour! Mercredi matin, nous avons quitté notre hôtel après le petit déjeuner pour aller à Versailles. Nous avons pris le métro puis le RER et le trajet était assez long mais nous nous sommes assis et avons discuté pendant le voyage. Une fois arrivés, nous avons marché jusqu’au château et nous nous sommes mis dans la queue pour la visite de 10:00. A l’intérieur tout était très grand et très décoré! Nous avons vu plusieurs salles importantes comme la Galerie des Glaces qui était impressionnante avec tous ses miroirs et la lumière qui entrait par les fenêtres. Aussi, nous avons appris l’histoire du château et nous avons trouvé intéressant que “ce fut un lieu de chasse avant Louis XIV.

Après la visite, nous sommes sortis dans les jardins et nous avons fait un pique-nique sur les bancs. Nous avons acheté le déjeuner avant de prendre le train le matin. Surtout, nous avions des sandwichs et des autres petites choses. Nous avons passé du temps à nous promener dans le parc et avons découvert les fontaines avec beaucoup de statues de la mythologie grecque. Il a commence à pleuvoir alors nous sommes allés dans une boutique de souvenirs, puis dans un café pour nous réchauffer. Nous avons mange notre dernière crêpe avant de retourner à l’hôtel pour faire nos valises pour le voyage de demain. Merci!

Au Chateau de Versailles

La Galerie des Glaces

Les Grandes Eaux

Le Char d'Apollon

Teo et un cygne

Des eleves bien fatigues qui ont beaucoup marche!

mais heureusement il y a le chocolat liegeois!

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Mardi 31 mars: macarons et Jardin du Luxembourg

From Haussmann’s Paris to French Gastronomy and the Latin Quarter

We began our day by continuing our exploration of how Paris was shaped under Georges Eugène Haussmann, whose 19th century redesign gave the city its wide boulevards and harmonious architecture. As we walked through the city, students were able to recognize these features and better understand how modern Paris came to life.

Our first stop was the magnificent Palais Garnier, commissioned by Napoléon III and inaugurated in 1875. This architectural masterpiece, with its rich decorations and grandeur, perfectly reflects the opulence of the Second Empire.

We then made our way to the rooftop of Printemps Haussmann, where students enjoyed a stunning panoramic view of Paris. From above, they quizzed each other on major landmarks such as the Tour Montparnasse, Église Saint-Augustin or Notre-Dame Cathedral which was a great way to reinforce their growing knowledge of the city.

The highlight of the morning was our macaron workshop, where students immersed themselves in French gastronomy. The macaron, now a symbol of French refinement and artisanal expertise, actually has origins dating back to the Middle East, where almond-based pastries were first created. It was introduced to France during the Renaissance by Catherine de Medici when she married King Henry II. Initially, it consisted of a single almond shell, quite different from today’s version. Over time, regional variations developed across France, each with its own style and texture. It wasn’t until the 19th century in Paris that pastry chefs created the modern macaron by sandwiching two shells with a creamy filling, giving birth to the iconic treat we know today.

Students made chocolate and pistachio macarons and learned the precise techniques required to achieve the perfect texture, especially how to avoid cracking the delicate shells!

To continue our culinary journey through Francophone cultures, we enjoyed galettes, a specialty from Brittany, and later explored Vietnamese cuisine highlighting the diversity and global influence of French gastronomy.

In the afternoon, we discovered the historic Latin Quarter, home to the prestigious Sorbonne University, founded in the 13th century. We then walked by the Panthéon, where France honors some of its greatest figures, including Victor Hugo, Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Émile Zola. We were able to recognize the architectural style of Jacques-Germain Soufflot, which we had already encountered in Mâcon at the Hospice de la Charité, deepening students’ understanding of his influence across different regions of France.

We also reflected on the remarkable women honored there: Joséphine Baker, Simone Veil, and Marie Curie.

We ended our day with a peaceful stroll through the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens, a true open-air museum filled with statues, and admired the Luxembourg Palace, where the French Senate is housed.

Tomorrow is already our last day in Paris, and we cannot wait to explore the grandeur of the Palace of Versailles and dive deeper into its fascinating history!

Clive:

Ce matin, nous sommes allés à l’Opéra de Paris, mais maintenant c’est fermé parce qu’ils faisaint des constructions pour réparer la façade. Ensuite nous sommes allés au Printemps, sur le toit du centre commercial où il y a une vue à 360 degrés de Paris.J’ai reconnu la Tour Eiffel, L’Arc de Triomphe, et Notre Dame.Après pris des photos, nous sommes allés aux Galeries Lafayettepour apprendre comment faire des macarons: nous avons fait des maacrons au chocolat et à la pistache. J’ai appris que la meringue est seulement du sucre et des blancs! Zara m’a donné ses macarons et j’en ai trop mangé! J’ai préféré le macaron au chocolat.

Esa:

A midi, nous avons mangé des galettes bretonnes.J'etais très heureux mais fatigué! Apres le déjeuner, nous sommes allés au Jardin du Luxembourg; dans le parc nous avons vu des petits bateaux dans la fontaine. C'etait tres joli et beaucoup de gens marchaient. Aujourd'hui j'ai appris que Haussmann a construit de grandes rues et qu'il y a 20 arrondissements. J'ai gouté le poivre du Timut dans ma galette et ça a le gout du pamplemousse!

Le Pantheon

Le Bassin et le Jardin du Luxembourg

l'Ecole Polytechnique de Paris (1794)

notre atelier de macarons

Au Printemps

Monday, March 30, 2026

Lundi 30 mars: Le Louvre et Notre Dame

A Day of Art, History, and Parisian Wonders

We began our day with an energetic morning walk toward the Louvre Museum, enjoying the vibrant energy of the city as it slowly came to life. Along the way, we passed through the elegant Palais-Royal gardens, where a Monuments de France guide introduced us to the famous Colonnes de Buren, also known as Les Deux Plateaux.

This striking modern installation, initiated under former Minister of Culture Jack Lang, was designed in part to prevent cars from parking in the courtyard. The students were fascinated to learn that while all the columns share the same diameter, their varying heights create a playful and dynamic visual effect. The black-and-white stripes echo the surrounding architecture, blending contemporary art with historical elegance. We also discovered that many renowned artists, such as Jean Cocteau and Colette, once lived nearby.

We then arrived at the Louvre Museum, where students explored its vast collections through the Sully, Denon, and Richelieu wings. They encountered everything from ancient Egyptian artifacts to classical antiquities and medieval masterpieces, taking us on an incredible journey through time and across civilizations.

After lunch, we enjoyed a lovely walk along the Seine, soaking in the beauty of Paris. We passed the iconic bouquinistes booksellers with their signature green stalls along with the Pont des Arts and the prestigious Institut de France.

We then made our way to Notre-Dame Cathedral, where we experienced a truly memorable moment: a mass was taking place while visitors were quietly touring the cathedral. This coexistence of worship and tourism surprised many students and sparked thoughtful reflections. They were especially impressed by the luminous stained-glass windows, the grandeur of the organ, and the resilience of the cathedral itself, particularly the rooster from the spire, which survived the devastating Notre-Dame fire of 2019.

We ended the day with a West African dinner, where students had the opportunity to try traditional dishes such as yassa au poulet, thiéboudienne, and mafé. We had a flavorful and memorable culinary experience that everyone truly enjoyed.

We are all looking forward to tomorrow’s macaron workshop and a stroll through the charming Luxembourg Gardens and its surrounding neighborhood. Another exciting Parisian adventure awaits!

Mason:

Bonjour, aujourd'hui je me suis réveillé à 7h40. Après je suis descend et j’ai mange le petit-déjeuner. J’ai marché jusqu’au Louvre. Il y avait cet homme au Jardin du Palais Royal et à coté des Colonnes de Buren ou Les Deux Plateaux qui nous a arrêté et et nous a raconté l’histoire du Palais Royal et de sa place. Quand nous sommes arrivés, c’était très rapide de rentrer au Louvre. Mon groupe a visité l’exposition de sculptures et j’ai beaucoup aimé. Puis nous sommes arrivés à la Joconde. J’étais un peu déçu car je pensais que c’était plus impressionnant. Enfin nous avons terminé avec la Mésopotamie et c’était très bien! Je pense que c’est ce que j’ai préféré! Pour finir, Le Louvre est le Meilleur musée que j’ai visité!

Ella:

Après le déjeuner à la boulangerie Eric Kayser, nous avons marché jusuq’à la Cathédrale Notre Dame qui était magnifique! J’ai appris comme les lieux de religion peuvent être impactés par le tourisme et le monde moderne...Pendant la visite , il y avait une messe et c’était int’eressant de voir la juxtaposition entre les vieilles traditions et les gens qui observaient sans vraiment respecter le lieu de culte. J’étais fascinée d’apprendre qu’après le feu, certaines choses étaient considérées comme des miracles comme le métal fondu tombé dans la main d’une statue de Jésus et qu’on n’a pas nettoyé pour garder cet incident dans les mémoires. C’était incroyable et j’ai hâte pour les prochains jours!