From March 7 to 11, 2026, the FAU group traveled to the École des Mines – PSL in Paris.
Arrival on March 7, 2026
To get to know each other in person after working together on the tandem project about energy, and to learn more about the topic, we traveled to Paris on Saturday morning with our teacher Julien Nairaince. We were able to check into our hotel in the afternoon.
The Weekend with the Exchange Partners
Saturday and Sunday were for getting to know the other students. The official program started on Monday. First, we met at a crêperie to spend the evening together. After that, the Parisian students gave us a short city tour through Paris at night.
The next morning, we visited the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac. This is a museum for the art of indigenous peoples from around the world. Some of the group also decided to go to the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine. Then we all met again in the park in front of the Eiffel Tower and had a picnic together.
In the afternoon, some of the group went to a demonstration for International Women’s Day, while others explored the Petite Ceinture. This is a park built on an old railway line that once went all around Paris.
Monday
With many good impressions, the official program began with two lectures at the École des Mines. The first event, by Cécile Schwartz, was about climate strategies. This included what students at the École des Mines are doing and general ideas for reducing our carbon footprint. The second lecture, by Pascal Stabat, focused on heat pumps and projects from his research group.
In the afternoon, the weather was beautiful. We joined a city tour through the Quartier Saint Michel around the École des Mines. The tour was led by Régis Labourdette, a photographer and art historian. We learned about the architecture of the Panthéon and city planning in Paris.
After that, we took the Métro to the Fabrique du métro. There, the huge Grand Paris Express project is presented. We got an interesting tour about the new metro lines and stations that will better connect Paris with its suburbs.
We discussed all the new information and impressions over a group dinner. Later, we met our exchange partners again in front of the Jardin du Luxembourg to dance to rock music. We also got a small look into life at “Meuh,” the student residence of the École des Mines.
Tuesday
On Tuesday morning, we visited the Académie du climat. This organization teaches children, teenagers, and adults about climate protection. They offer many different workshops – from upcycling and urban gardening to training for a more climate-friendly lifestyle.
After lunch, the German teacher Florence Rougerie gave us a tour of the Lycée Louis-le-Grand. This is a famous high school in the center of Paris. The building’s architecture was especially impressive. Afterwards, we had the chance to talk with students from a “classe préparatoire.” This is a special program that prepares students for the difficult exam to get into a top “Grande École.”
In the evening, some of the group went on a boat trip on the Seine River. It was organized by the Welcome Desk of PSL University (Paris Sciences et Lettres) so we could see the city from a different view.
Wednesday
On our last exchange day, we had the chance to talk with students from the École des Mines during a German class. After that, we got a tour of the elite university and visited the Musée de Minéralogie. This museum shows impressive stones and diamonds.
At the end of our stay, we visited the cafeteria of the French student services organization CROUS and said goodbye to our exchange partners.
The five days in Paris were full of new experiences, exchanges, and meetings. We will surely remember them for a long time. We want to say a big thank you to Linda Koiran, the head of the Department of Languages, Cultures, and Interculturality at Mines Paris – PSL, for organizing this study trip so well.
Our warm thanks also go to the Europe-wide university alliance EELISA for their financial support.
Now, we are already looking forward to welcoming the Parisian students in Erlangen at FAU from April 25 to 29.
From March 7 to 11, 2026, the FAU group traveled to the École des Mines – PSL in Paris.
Arrival on March 7, 2026
To get to know each other in person after working together on the tandem project about energy, and to learn more about the topic, we traveled to Paris on Saturday morning with our teacher Julien Nairaince. We were able to check into our hotel in the afternoon.
The Weekend with the Exchange Partners
Saturday and Sunday were for getting to know the other students. The official program started on Monday. First, we met at a crêperie to spend the evening together. After that, the Parisian students gave us a short city tour through Paris at night.
The next morning, we visited the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac. This is a museum for the art of indigenous peoples from around the world. Some of the group also decided to go to the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine. Then we all met again in the park in front of the Eiffel Tower and had a picnic together.
In the afternoon, some of the group went to a demonstration for International Women’s Day, while others explored the Petite Ceinture. This is a park built on an old railway line that once went all around Paris.
Monday
With many good impressions, the official program began with two lectures at the École des Mines. The first event, by Cécile Schwartz, was about climate strategies. This included what students at the École des Mines are doing and general ideas for reducing our carbon footprint. The second lecture, by Pascal Stabat, focused on heat pumps and projects from his research group.
In the afternoon, the weather was beautiful. We joined a city tour through the Quartier Saint Michel around the École des Mines. The tour was led by Régis Labourdette, a photographer and art historian. We learned about the architecture of the Panthéon and city planning in Paris.
After that, we took the Métro to the Fabrique du métro. There, the huge Grand Paris Express project is presented. We got an interesting tour about the new metro lines and stations that will better connect Paris with its suburbs.
We discussed all the new information and impressions over a group dinner. Later, we met our exchange partners again in front of the Jardin du Luxembourg to dance to rock music. We also got a small look into life at “Meuh,” the student residence of the École des Mines.
Tuesday
On Tuesday morning, we visited the Académie du climat. This organization teaches children, teenagers, and adults about climate protection. They offer many different workshops – from upcycling and urban gardening to training for a more climate-friendly lifestyle.
After lunch, the German teacher Florence Rougerie gave us a tour of the Lycée Louis-le-Grand. This is a famous high school in the center of Paris. The building’s architecture was especially impressive. Afterwards, we had the chance to talk with students from a “classe préparatoire.” This is a special program that prepares students for the difficult exam to get into a top “Grande École.”
In the evening, some of the group went on a boat trip on the Seine River. It was organized by the Welcome Desk of PSL University (Paris Sciences et Lettres) so we could see the city from a different view.
Wednesday
On our last exchange day, we had the chance to talk with students from the École des Mines during a German class. After that, we got a tour of the elite university and visited the Musée de Minéralogie. This museum shows impressive stones and diamonds.
At the end of our stay, we visited the cafeteria of the French student services organization CROUS and said goodbye to our exchange partners.
The five days in Paris were full of new experiences, exchanges, and meetings. We will surely remember them for a long time. We want to say a big thank you to Linda Koiran, the head of the Department of Languages, Cultures, and Interculturality at Mines Paris – PSL, for organizing this study trip so well.
Our warm thanks also go to the Europe-wide university alliance EELISA for their financial support.
Now, we are already looking forward to welcoming the Parisian students in Erlangen at FAU from April 25 to 29.