Learn French in the heart of the Loire Valley

Since 1912, the Institut de Touraine has been welcoming students from around the world to its historic campus in Tours, near the famous châteaux of the Loire Valley. A unique immersion in the French language and culture.

114 years of history • More than 250,000 students enrolled • FLE Quality Label • Official DELF/DALF testing center • 1 hour from Paris

Learning French is good.
Living it is even better.

Whether you come for your studies, work, or passion:
the Institut de Touraine welcomes you all year round.

FRENCH COURSES

Taught by teachers specialized in French as a Foreign Language (FLE), our French courses are for students of all levels.

LANGUAGE STAYS

Language stays include French language courses and a tailor-made extracurricular activity program.

TRAINING PROGRAMS

The training programs are designed for teachers and future teachers who wish to improve their teaching skills.

EXAMS

The Institut de Touraine is an accredited examination center for French language diplomas and certifications such as DALF and DELF.

ACCOMMODATION

Easily find your accommodation in Tours; over 150 host families are carefully selected and monitored by the Institut de Touraine.

When to choose courses?

Do you want to progress with clear objectives and validate your learning?

Structured around an educational program established according to the European language framework, our courses include regular assessments (tests, homework, exams) to measure your progress. It’s the ideal formula to prepare for DELF or DALF exams or strengthen your skills in an academic or professional setting.

When to choose a language stay?

Do you want to learn in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere without the pressure of grading?

Through various activities (games, discussions, workshops), you develop your fluency and spontaneity freely. The language stays offer complete immersion in French language and culture. They consist of French courses adapted to the participants’ level, as well as cultural, artistic, sports, or tourist activities (visits, cooking workshops, hikes, etc.).

Why Choose the Institut De Touraine?

Since 1912

A leading school for teaching French as a foreign language

A historic campus

A complex of several historic buildings in the heart of Tours, including the^19th-century Hôtel particulier de Torterue and its inner courtyard, offering an exceptional learning environment.

An Immersion in Everyday Life

Students from all over the world, host families, cultural activities, field trips, and plenty of opportunities to practice French in real-life situations.

Tours and the Loire Valley

An ideal setting for discovering the French language and culture, in the heart of a region designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

1 hour from Paris

Enjoy a pleasant, safe, and accessible living environment, all while staying within easy reach of the French capital.

Students each Year

Different Nationalities

Years of Existence

TESTIMONIALS
FROM OUR STUDENTS

Discover testimonials from students and teachers who have chosen the Institut de Touraine.

I took the course for a week as part of a cultural trip. The teachers are very helpful and friendly, and the topics covered are also current and interesting.

I visited the institute in Touraine for a week, which was really useful! I learned so much in one week and my French improved a lot for my studies. And my teacher, Margot, was very kind to me and helped me a lot. Great experience, thank you very much.

The students had a lot of fun while making progress in their French, both in written comprehension and oral expression. Each day, a different activity was proposed, in line with the desired themes. Special mention should be made of the courses at the Musée des Beaux-Arts, as well as the cooking workshops, which were particularly popular.

Do You Wish to Register for our Courses, Language Stays, and Training Programs?

Follow the news from the Institut de Touraine
to learn all about upcoming events and highlights.

A Complete Guide to Studying French in France: Everything You Need to Know

A Comprehensive Guide to Learning French in France

Whether you’re a student, a professional, a future expat, or simply passionate about French culture, here’s everything you need to know about learning French in France.

30 June 2026

Street Art in Tours: A Cultural Excursion to Learn French in a Different Way

For our students from Georgetown, a field trip focused on street art in the streets of Tours was organized to give them the opportunity to learn French while exploring the

23 June 2026

Cultural excursions from Tours to enrich your language studies in France

Discover the calendar of cultural excursions organized this May to learn and experience French in a different way.

20 May 2026

Your Frequently Asked Questions about our Courses and Language Stays

What is the Difference between a Course and a Language Stay?

Language stays include 15 or 20 hours of French courses per week, to which are added cultural activities and excursions: city tours, Loire Valley visits, film club, cooking workshop…

What Accommodation Do You Offer?

Host family, university residence, furnished rental… The Institute offers a range of varied accommodation options, continuously evaluated. Over 150 host families are selected and monitored by our team.

What Will My Schedule be?

Standard courses take place in the morning, from 9:00 AM to 12:20 PM, Monday to Friday. Intensive courses also occupy part of Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons (classes end no later than 4:45 PM).

The Institut de Touraine is a Qualité FLE certified school, a member of Campus France, Groupement FLE, and the International Federation of French Teachers (FIPF).