Cultural Center



🇫🇷ARTICLE IN FRENCH! 🇫🇷 Niveau : B2/C1
En France, les blagues, canulars, rires et poissons sont à l’honneur le 1er Avril ! Mais pourquoi ? Découvre avec nous d’où vient cette tradition de coller des poissons dans le dos des autres !

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🇫🇷ARTICLE IN FRENCH! 🇫🇷 Niveau : B1/B2
L’Europe réunit de nombreuses cultures différentes propres à chaque pays qui la compose. De nombreux monuments célèbres sont la source même de l'activité touristique de ce territoire. En voici quelques-uns…

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World capital of wine, home to the largest reflecting pool in the world, breathing with art and history: if you are wondering which French city to visit, Bordeaux should definitely find a place to your list! …


🇫🇷ARTICLE IN FRENCH! 🇫🇷   Niveau : B1
Dans la liste des 29 pays francophones, nous retrouvons le Canada. En effet, le français est la deuxième langue maternelle de la population canadienne. Cependant, selon Statistique Canada, seulement 22,8% de la population y parle français comme première langue officielle. …


French cinematography has undoubtedly been providing the film industry world-wide with countless high-quality features throughout this and last century. Here are our tips for six French classics that you should definitely watch: …


Writer, philosopher, feminist, professor: Simone de Beauvoir is widely recognized for her writing as well as for laying foundation for a modern feminist movement. …


In this month of March, which celebrates International Women's Day, the Alliance française de San Francisco dedicates its week to women from Francophone countries. This year, the theme of the International Women’s Day is #EmbraceEquity. This year's theme is not only about women's struggle but also about inclusivity in general.  

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Although San Francisco is blooming in spring, Canadian snow-covered peak are in full skiing mode. Canadian Rockies are among the world-class ski resorts attracting thousands of winter sports lovers from all over the world. There is a great variety of resorts to choose from throughout the whole country, the most famous one are probably located in British Columbia and Alberta. Here are our tips for six five ski resorts in Canada: …


14th of February is a celebration of love in many countries all around the world. In some countries, like Spain or Finland, it is not just a celebration of romantic love, but also a celebration of friendship and generally people you love. With Paris being considered one of the most romantic cities in the world, City of Love some would say, France is of course also celebrating this special day! …


Have you ever noticed these photographs on the Alliance Francaise's walls? Inspired by Bresson, Bill's passion is street photography but also interesting angles of Paris and other cities! …


Are you a traveller searching for piece and calm and quietness? Are you tired of the hustle and bustle of the city life? New Caledonia is a heavenly paradise, still quite undiscovered by hoards of tourists, offering gorgeous beaches, rich culture and history and many remote islands. …


“To its great men, the grateful fatherland, ” says the inscription at the entrance of the Panthéon in Paris, a magnificent mausoleum honoring many heroes of French history, including Jean Jacques Rousseau, Victor Hugo or Voltaire. Only six of them are heroines though. Let’s uncover who these exceptional women were and what their stories that keep inspiring until today are.  …


Are you a nature lover? Turquoise lakes, magnificent mountains, never-ending views? If yes, you have to visit Canada and its nationals parks. With over 17.2 million square foot of protected natural land, Canada was the first country in the world that established a national park service! …


UNESCO World Heritage sites, dynamic university, vibrant atmosphere, cobblestone streets, rich culture and history: Lyon, France’s third largest city, has so much to offer! …


Maria Curie is one of the most important and celebrated scientists not only of the 20th century, but of all time. Curie made noteworthy discoveries in the field of chemistry, physics and medicine with far-reaching influence up to this day. …


The holiday season is officially upon us! Today, let’s have a look at how French celebrate Christmas and what are their not so well known traditions during this holiday... Let’s uncover some of the differences between French Christmas and Christmas in other countries!  …


Christmas is slowly knocking at our door, but there is a period of waiting and preparing for Christmas, called Advent. How is it like in France? …


Mountains, greenery, beaches, historical sites: Haiti is a beautiful country located on the island of Hispaniola, third largest by area and the most populous in the Caribbean, inhabiting almost 12 million people. Haiti declared its independence from France in 1804, but French language still remain to be on of the official ones together with the Haitian Creole. Capital city is Port-au- Prince. Today we offer you 5 tips for what to do if you decide to visit Haiti. …


It is said that Normandy is the "orchard of France". Normandy, its apple orchards lined with green grass, as green as an apple! This fruit offers multiple gustatory possibilities and above all, seems to appreciate the oceanic climate of the region. Let's go and meet this fruit symbol of the Normandy region! …


We continue the world tour of the French-speaking world. This week, the Alliance française de San Francisco takes you to Cambodia! Cambodia is a country in Southeast Asia known for its Angkor Wat sites and temples, its heavenly beaches and its Khmer culture. Because of the French colonial past, Cambodia has today 400 000 French speaking people Planning to visit Cambodia? Discover our selection of must-sees to enjoy the many wonders of the land of smiles! …


Marvelous coastline, fascinating countryside, impressive castles and churches and picturesque ancient towns: this week we invite you to explore the French region of Normandy! …


Françoise Sagan (real name Françoise Quoirez) is a French novelist born on June 21, 1935 in Cajarc (Lot) and died in Honfleur (Calvados) on September 24, 2004. In 1954, when she was only 18 years old, she met the success and the celebrity... Described as a "charming little monster" by François Mauriac, she also published biographies, plays, songs, and collaborated in the writing of screenplays and film dialogues. But she is also known for having regularly defrayed the social and judicial chronicle. …

Célion Dion: international French-speaking star

Célion Dion: international French-speaking star

Discover today the biography of Celine Dion, whom you already know for her international career in English. But did you know that Celine Dion is also a French-speaking star? We tell you everything in this article!

Beaujolais Nouveau has arrived !

Beaujolais Nouveau has arrived !

It's almost time to celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau in France! Every third Thursday of November, the French celebrate the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau. But what does this wine festival consist of? We tell you everything in this article!


France has several mountainous areas, including the most famous, the Alps. And wherever you go, one thing you can be sure of is a spectacular mountain landscape. Among the 232 ski resorts open in France, we have prepared a selection of the best places to spend your vacations.  France has the best of the best in ski areas. From the smallest to the biggest, from the most exclusive to the most authentic, from the festive to the family-oriented, you are bound to find what you are looking for! Let's get started! …


Today, in our series of powerful French women, discover the figure of Simone Veil, probably one of the most important French politicians. Young Auschwitz survivor, Minister of Health at the origin of the legalization of abortion, President of the European Parliament, immortal at the French Academy... A look back at an exceptional career. Discover the story of this woman with an incredible destiny. …


Today, the Alliance française de San Francisco takes you to discover the Burgundy region with the city of Chalon-sur-Saône, located between Dijon and Lyon. 

Discover below a selection of must-do's to discover the city of Chalon-sur-Saône and its surroundings. …


Majestic mountains, frozen glaciers, beautiful cities, great coffee culture and incredible wildlife: Ô Canada! Find about some interesting facts about the second largest country in the world. …


The visit of the week is Bordeaux! Bordeaux is both a wine region and a city in southwest France. The city was first settled in 567 BC, and some of the oldest ruins in the city, dating back to the 4th century, can still be visited in the crypt beneath the Basilica of Saint-Seurin. …


Have you ever heard “La Vie en Rose”? Surely you did. Then you might want to find out something more about the singer of its original, Edith Piaf. Edith was born in Paris in 1915 as Edith Giovanna Gassion. Because of her height of five feet she was nicknamed “La Mome Piaf” meaning little sparrow. Even though her life turned into a tragic one, she is until now celebrated as one of France’s greatest performers. …


This week, the Alliance takes you to visit THE most visited French castle: le Château de Versailles! The Palace of Versailles is a huge place where art and nature combine perfectly. King Louis XIV is the creator of this unique palace, known for its incredible architecture and French gardens. It belongs at the top of your "must-see" bucket list for the City of Light and is easy to reach for a day trip - or even a half-day visit. …


La Côte d’Azur is one of the most visited parts of France, famous for its magnificent beaches, atmospheric cities, film festivals and beautiful nature. However, it offers much more than just the most popular towns and casinos: from stunning national parks to architectural treasures, modern art museum, centuries-old villages located high in the hills and more. Find out about the less known, but still worth visiting parts of the French Riviera. …


Our discovery of the week is the Mont-Saint-Michel! Mont-Saint-Michel is a tidal island, in Normandy In 2019, the island had 29 inhabitants. With its 2.5 million visitors per year, this must-see monument of French tourism is full of history! …


Want to visit the Musée d'Orsay during you trip in Paris? Very good choice! It is known and recognized all over the world. It is indeed famous for housing one of the most beautiful collections of impressionist works in the world. You are not a specialist in the subject? You will discover incredible works whose authors are known to all: Van Gogh, Monet, Cézanne, Degas, Courbert, Garnier, Guimard… …


We continue the world tour of the French-speaking world. This week, the Alliance française de San Francisco takes you to Tunisia! …

Visit Ajaccio

Visit Ajaccio

The theme of the week is Corsica, so we take you to visit Ajaccio, the biggest city of the « island of beauty » (l’île de beauté). Called "the island of beauty" for centuries, Corsica is full of places to visit. Already in ancient times, the Greeks referred to this mountain in the sea as the most beautiful island in the Mediterranean.


The third largest French-speaking city in the world, cultural and commercial hub and a hot spot for good food and music, Montreal is definitely worth visiting. Montreal is the second most populated city in Canada, founded in 1642, now part of Quebec province. Despite the city’s size, the parts of Montreal that mostly interest tourists are in relatively compact neighborhoods. Here are some tips for what to see during your visit in this city. …


The symbol of Paris, for many also a symbol of France. La Tour Eiffel was built in 1889 for the Exposition Universelle, a world’s fair to celebrate the anniversary of the French Revolution. It has become a global cultural and architectural icon and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. These are some basic facts, now let’s find out about the things that you surely did not know about the Tower... …


La réunion

;✈️This week, the Alliance Française takes you to visit Reunion Island! La réunion is a french department in the Indian Ocean. Its tropical and volcanic landscapes make the islands a unique place in the world, at the crossroads between Europe, Africa and India. …


You may have already seen some of his black and white photographs in the AFSF's corridors and staircase. Bill speaks fluent French and visits Paris at least twice a year, and he has been a regular student of the Alliance Française de San Francisco for almost 20 years. It is a pleasure to share some news about his last trip to Paris with you! …


The fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and the smallest metropolitan French region by population: explore beautiful Corsica with us. …


✈️This week, the Alliance Française takes you to visit Louvre Museum! Arguably the most famous museum in the world, the Louvre has had an interesting history in Paris. With 10 million visitors per year, it is the most visited museum in the world. Here are some facts about this museum with a worldwide reputation. …


This week, the Alliance Française takes you to visit Lebanon! discover this French-speaking country in the middle of the Middle East ! …


Is Strasbourg worth visiting ? the answer is obviously yes!

On the German border, Strasbourg offers its visitors a typical Alsatian architecture that cannot be seen anywhere else in France. This medieval city is full of history and emblematic places that we suggest you discover in this article. …


This week, we take you to visit New caledonia! The archipelago and islands that make up New Caledonia are located in the heart of the Coral Sea, in the South Pacific. These magnificent islands are full of natural wonders and dream beaches. …


It's that fall time of the year when the fleeting summer is over, everyone comes back to their homes.
Back to school is "La Rentrée"! …


“In order to be irreplaceable, one  must always be different” 

Find out everything about the fashion icon of the 1920s!  …

Visit Dijon

Visit Dijon

This week, the Alliance Française takes you to visit Dijon! Famous for its gastronomy and architecture, Dijon is located in the center of France, 3 hours from Paris.


If Silicon Valley remains the Eldorado for entrepreneurs, France is not to be outdone in developing its own entrepreneurial ecosystem. Over the past decade, French Tech has come a long way to establish itself as one of the most dynamic countries in the global tech industry.

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