Learning French in France as an adult is about more than just attending
French classes in a classroom. It’s about living the language in a cultural, human, and sensory context.
The
Gastronomy & Wine program offered by the
Centre International d’Antibes embodies this perfectly: it combines language lessons with hands-on field experiences.
One of the highlights of this program is a guided
Food Tour in Nice, allowing participants to dive into French gastronomy while practicing French in real-world situations.
Nestled between the sea and the mountains, Nice is an authentic and cosmopolitan city, shaped by Italian and Provençal influences.
Its colorful markets, narrow streets, Belle Époque architecture, and seaside charm make it a perfect place to learn French and experience the French lifestyle.
The food tour starts in the heart of Old Nice. This 1.5-hour guided walk leads students through iconic sites of Niçoise culinary heritage.
The tour includes four carefully selected stops, each focused on a key element of local gastronomy: wine, olive oil, traditional cuisine, and artisanal ice cream.
The tour begins at
Cave Bianchi, founded in 1860 — the oldest wine cellar in Nice, located in a former underground religious building.
The setting is intimate, almost sacred, and perfect for discovery and exchange.
Participants explore the history of French wine through a guided tasting of a carefully selected Provence rosé.
The cellar staff explain local grape varieties, winemaking techniques, and the importance of terroir.
For those in the
Gastronomy & Wine program, it’s a sensory introduction that blends French vocabulary with the pleasure of tasting.
This experience beautifully reflects the idea of learning French through gastronomy — discovering the words, but also the tastes, culture, and nuance behind them.
The second stop takes visitors to a local institution:
Maison Nicolas Alziari.
Founded in the late 19th century, this family-run company has preserved traditional expertise in olive oil production.
Students learn about organic olive farming on hillside terraces around Nice.
They visit the mill — one of the last traditional Genoese mills still operating in Europe — and taste several varieties of olive oil.
It’s a perfect opportunity to talk about
French gastronomy through a signature product while expanding vocabulary in real context: harvest, blend, mill, smoothness…
Next stop: one of the most popular spots in the neighborhood —
Renée Socca.
A beloved local eatery where students discover savory specialties from Nice:
socca (chickpea pancake), pissaladière (onion tart), Swiss chard pie, and Provençal stuffed vegetables.
This is often the most fun part of the visit — everyone shares impressions, talks about the dishes, learns how to order in French, and connects over stories and flavors.
To wrap up the walk, a sweet treat is in order!
Fenocchio, founded in 1966, offers 94 flavors of ice cream and sorbet — from classic vanilla and strawberry to lavender, tomato, and basil!
Participants choose their flavors and learn tasty vocabulary like “smooth,” “refreshing,” “a scoop,” or “a cone.”
This food tour is not just a tourist activity — it’s a key element of the
Gastronomy & Wine program.
It brings real meaning to the idea of
learning French in France through lived experiences.
Students discover
Nice in a new way: through its artisans, flavors, scents, and accents.
They improve listening comprehension, expand vocabulary, and most importantly — they live a warm, authentic, and delicious immersion.
The Centre International d’Antibes makes gastronomy a central part of language learning, rooted in the local culture, land, and human connection.
Joining the Gastronomy & Wine program means learning French while embracing the French way of life.
Through experiences like the Food Tour, learning becomes engaging, concrete, and unforgettable.
It’s the perfect stay for any adult wanting to combine language progress, sensory pleasure, and cultural discovery — all under the sun of the Côte d’Azur.
