Cultural Center



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.


The Tour de France is over: Find out about the Tour’s evolution throughout its almost 120 years history.

Visit Morroco : the pearl of the maghreb

Visit Morroco : the pearl of the maghreb

This week, the blog takes you to visit morocco!


Have you ever been to Marseille? No? It’s high time you fixed that! French second largest city in the  heart of Provence will definitely steal your heart. Colorful neighborhoods, lovely restaurants and  bars, beautiful views, Mediterranean vibe - there is nothing else you need! Here are our six tips for what to do in this city.  


Why walk on one of the “Chemins de Compostelle”? 

Going on one of the “Chemins de Compostelle” is an opportunity to get your body used to walking again, to visit places full of history and to have meaningful encounters.

5 things to know about Andorra

5 things to know about Andorra

Andorra is a small country located between France and Spain. However, this micro-state is neither completely French, nor completely Spanish!
We tell you everything about this French-speaking region like no other!

Louis XV: Tales of love and cookery

Louis XV: Tales of love and cookery

If Louis XIV was known to eat alone in public, according to the royal protocols, his successors, on the other hand, tried to escape from it. The last years of his reign saw the emergence of the fires of conversation, the pleasures of gastronomy, and the presence of women at the table, exploding the stuffy and rigid atmosphere of the royal dining room!
Here are a few portraits of women (and dishes) that shaped the royal life!

Togolese idioms: French as you've never seen it!

Togolese idioms: French as you've never seen it!

Although Togo is indeed a French-speaking country, the local population is no less creative in the use of our good old French. Grab your pens and notebooks, it's time to discover the flowery expressions and subtleties of language typically Togolese!

The Tarte Tropézienne : the darling of French stars

The Tarte Tropézienne : the darling of French stars

We are all aware, whether we are French or American: the French Riviera is THE place to be all year round. We love this region for its mild temperatures, sunny beaches and local restaurants with menus between land and sea!

The Tarte Tropézienne is no exception to the rule: learn about the origins of this dessert made famous by the French cinema!

Comorian music: committed and hybrid

Comorian music: committed and hybrid

The Comoros is an archipelago located in West Africa, in the Indian Ocean. It is a former French colony which included Mayotte until their independence in 1975.

The national languages of Comoros are French, Arabic and Comorian. This mix of European, Indian and African, and Arab culture has resulted in a rich and amazing musical heritage and culture!

Discover the Comoros, as you have never seen them before!

Diptyque, an example of French luxury travelling across the ocean

Diptyque, an example of French luxury travelling across the ocean

St Germain Diptyque is a luxury French fragrance brand. Based in Paris, the company produces eau de parfum, eau de toilette, scented candles, and perfume oil diffusers. Its original boutique is still located at 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain in the 5th arrondissement of Paris.

Night of Ideas : Where are we going ?

Night of Ideas : Where are we going ?

As France takes over the presidency of the European Union in a context of geopolitical upheaval, the Night of Ideas proposes to bring together artists, philosophers, writers and thinkers from all over the world to propose a glimpse of an answer to the question of the time: Where are we going ?

Laos, the Land of a million elephants

Laos, the Land of a million elephants

Head to Southeast Asia to discover Laos, a country shared between the French and Buddhist culture!

World Music day : a French-American friendship story

World Music day : a French-American friendship story

A review of the French and American origins of an international festival!

Thomas Sankara, the Che Guevara of Burkina Faso

Thomas Sankara, the Che Guevara of Burkina Faso

On October 15, 1987, Thomas Sankara, an icon of the struggle against colonial imperialism, was assassinated in a coup d'état organized by his own comrades in arms.A brief look at the life of Thomas Sankara, father of the struggle against colonial imperialism.

World Health Day in France: from patient to citizen-user

World Health Day in France: from patient to citizen-user

Every year, on April 7, hundreds of organizations celebrate World Health Day throughout the world with the aim of better informing public opinion about the political and economic mechanisms surrounding public health. This approach is the result of a long term work, especially in France, where the issue of health has emerged during the political and economic history of the country. We tell you everything in this article!

8 customs and traditions only Malagasy people can understand

8 customs and traditions only Malagasy people can understand

You probably know the movie Madagascar, but do you really know the island it is based on? Have you heard of the Vodiontry, or the Famadihana? Head to the Indian Ocean, we tell you all about Malagasy customs and traditions!

French woman portrait: Marguerite Yourcenar, or the entry of poetry in the French Academy

French woman portrait: Marguerite Yourcenar, or the entry of poetry in the French Academy

Marguerite Yourcenar, born as Marguerite Cleenwerk de Crayencour, is the very first woman to have entered, not without difficulty, the French Academy. Learn more about this talented and yet unknown poetess!

5 things to know about Seychelles

5 things to know about Seychelles

Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands is THE paradise in the middle of the Indian Ocean! Known for its beautiful white sand beaches, these islands are full of cultural and culinary secrets of the most amazing!

March, Women's History Month

March, Women's History Month

March is Women's History Month! On the occasion of the celebration of Women's Rights Day, here are 10 portraits of women who have marked French history in all fields: war, fashion, politics, writing, art, we tell you everything!

5 things to know about French Guiana

5 things to know about French Guiana

Welcome to French Guiana! France's largest department located in South America is home to as many culinary and cultural treasures! Here are 5 things to know about French Guiana!


"It's a rock! ... It's a cape! ... What am I saying? It's a pinnacle!" We all know this famous line from the play Cyrano de Bergerac, but have you heard of his author? We tell you all about Edmond Rostand, 19th century playwright and poet, and father of the famous Cyrano!


Zouglou is THE Ivorian music par excellence! This popular variety was born in the 80s, and today mixes Nouchi, French, and brings up to the present day some wild traditional rhythms. Although mainly Zouglou known for combining tradition and modernity, the history is very closely linked to that of Ivory Coast, we tell you everything in this post!

The story behind the Chandeleur

The story behind the Chandeleur

Do you know the history of Candlemas? Every year, February 2nd is the date when pancakes delight young and old gourmets. But do you know the history of Chandeleur? What is the origin of this day, and especially why do we eat French crepes ? We tell you everything!

Exploring Senegalese Literature, Music and Science

Exploring Senegalese Literature, Music and Science

Did you know that this year’s Prix Goncourt went to a Senegalese novelist, making him the first writer from sub-Saharan Africa to be awarded France’s oldest and most prestigious literary prize? Would you be surprised to learn that Senegal is among the 11 African countries working on the Great Green Wall  project to plant trees across the African continent, creating a natural barrier to hold back the Sahara Desert from climate change?

5 things to know about Senegal!

5 things to know about Senegal!

Located on the west coast of the African continent, Senegal is a country bordered by Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau. Renowned for the hospitality of its people, Senegal is a crossroads of ethnicities and traditions, as well as a popular tourist destination!
Discover 5 things to know about Senegal!


Get to know: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and the Little Prince, or one the most famous French stories to this day. 

Catherine Deneuve: An icon of French cinema with  an international reputation!

Catherine Deneuve: An icon of French cinema with an international reputation!

Born in 1943 in Paris, Catherine Deneuve is a French actress as well as an occasional singer, model, and producer considered one of the greatest French actresses of her generation. In numerous movies such as "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg", "The Young Girls of Rochefort", "Donkey Skin" or "Belle de jour", she has marked generations of moviegoers...
Here is all you need to know about  Catherine Deneuve! 

Celebrating Belgian Francophone Authors

Celebrating Belgian Francophone Authors

Did you know that the worlds two most translated French authors are Belgian? Francophone authors Hergé and Georges Simenon honor their Belgian heritage with their French-language literature translated around the world. But the list doesn’t stop there of celebrated Belgian authors who have made their mark on French literature.

5 things to know about Belgium!

5 things to know about Belgium!

Belgium is a country in Western Europe. It is bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France and the North Sea. Belgium is a developed country, with an advanced high-income economy. It also ranks as one of the safest or most peaceful countries in the world.

Discover here 5 things you probably don't know about Belgium!

French Christmas Markets Tradition

French Christmas Markets Tradition

French Christmas markets – or marchés de Noël – are a popular French Christmas tradition. Christmas markets take place in many cities throughout France, often starting the last weekend of November and running until the end of December. The festive stalls sell handmade gifts, food and mulled wine (vin chaud) for all to enjoy.

Cameroon: Africa in miniature

Cameroon: Africa in miniature

Do you like a chill day on a beach or a hike in the mountains? Do you enjoy exploring the beauty of a green rainforest or a golden desert? If you answered yes to at least one of these, Cameroon is the right place for you to visit. 


There is no better way to get into the holiday spirit than reading some treasured Christmas titles, listening to music of the season or checking out the latest holiday menu and décor ideas. Your AFSF Culturethèque e-library is stocked for the season and ready to help you find everything you need. 

5 funny expressions you’ll hear only in Quebec

5 funny expressions you’ll hear only in Quebec

It is well known that many Quebecers use many funny expressions in their daily conversations. Indeed, Quebecois French is a dynamic language that offers a lot of unusual expressions, slang terms, and turns of phrase.
Discover here 5 funny Quebec expressions, their literal translations and their meanings! 

All about French cheese!

All about French cheese!

It is well known that France is the country of cheese! It is even a national pride. Since when have we eaten it? How do we differentiate them? How many of them are there? Why is cheese so loved by the French?


Contact Us

Alliance Française
1345 Bush Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
Tel: +1 (415) 775-7755
E-mail: afsf@afsf.com

Follow Us

                  



Copyright © 1889-2026. Alliance Française. All Rights Reserved.

Alliance Française is an American nonprofit public charity, tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Design by Monsieur Graphic