French Riviera Cultural Activities

Take advantage of the unique flavor the French Riviera has to offer. CEA offers a variety of local cultural activities to match your interests. Whether you enjoy music concerts, clubs, sports, cooking classes, language exchanges or something entirely different, our resident staff can help you get involved in the local culture. Here are just some examples.

Cannes Film Festival Internship (Spring Semester Only)

Once spring semester is underway, CEA students will have the unique opportunity to apply for an internship at the internationally-renowned Cannes Film Festival, which is held for 12 days in the middle of May. Successful applicants will work with a California-based production company assisting field crews in shootings, logging, duplicating, editing and arranging interviews with celebrities and invitations to functions. A film or communications background is preferred, but students from other disciplines will be considered. Applications will be accepted once students are onsite. Please note, internship placements are highly competitive. Check out a video from last year’s participants.

French Cuisine - Cooking Sessions at The CEA Office

We will get together and prepare traditional dishes such as "ratatouille": pan-fried vegetables with tomato sauce - "farcis niçois": stuffed oven-baked vegetables - "pissaladière": onion pie garnished with anchovies and olives - "socca": chick pea flour pancakes - "beignets de fleurs de courgette": zucchini flowers fried in batter.

Wine Appreciation

You will develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of wine in the presence of a local wine expert (sommelier) through tasting, wine and food pairings, and vineyard visits in the Var region of France, which produces delicious Cotes de Provence wines. When you return to the US, impress your friends with your new wine appreciation knowledge!

Perfume Making

Dabble in the secret art of the perfumer and walk away with your very own creation of valuable French Eau de Perfume or Eau de Cologne. At one of the most renowned perfume factories of Grasse the world capital of Perfume you will prepare your own perfume creation under the watchful eye of a Maitre Parfumeur and take it home with you.

Pottery Painting

French Riviera towns like Biot and Vallauris have a long tradition of pottery making and painting. You will be able to choose from a large selection of pieces of pottery such as mugs, plates, vases etc and paint it with your favorite motives. Your master pieces will then be glazed and burned at very high temperature.