Yale Summer Session in Paris: Age of Cathedrals

Description

A study of the culture and monuments of the High Middle Ages in France, with visits to Saint Denis, Chartres, Notre-Dame de Paris, Sainte-Chapelle, Amiens, and Paris's Cité de l'Architecture and Cluny Museum.  We shall read and discuss accompanying historical, literary, and philosophical works by Peter Abelard, Abbot Suger, Rutebeuf, Saint Bernard, Joinville, Thibaut de Champagne, Pseudo-Dionysius, Marie de France, and James of Voragine; as well as the anonymous Song of Roland, some fabliaux, and courtly lyric. Core considerations include gothic architecture, urban and economic renewal, and the intellectual, social, and religious life of twelfth- and thirteenth-century France. Participants will be contacted after the deadline to choose to take the course as FREN, HUMS, or LITR.

Courses & Credits

Participants receive 2 credits for FREN S3040 or its equivalents in HUMS, LITR, or HSAR.

Yale Summer Session Programs Abroad are intensive, highly structured academic programs led by Yale instructors. 

Tuition & Fees

SUMMER 2026

*Additional out-of-pocket costs not billed by Yale include: air fare, meals, books, class materials, and transportation to and from the classroom. See YSS Programs Abroad: Costs & Funding for more information about coverage options and answers to general FAQ.

Instructor

R. Howard Bloch, Sterling Professor of French and of Humanities at Yale.

Professor Bloch has written widely on the literature and art of the Middle Ages as well as on the late nineteenth century. His latest book is titled Paris and Her Cathedrals (W.W. Norton).

Class Times 

The class will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m, and on excursion days.

Students should expect about 12 hours of work outside the classroom each week, as well as excursions and other program activities.

Class times may be subject to change with notice from the instructors.

Classroom Location

Classes will be held at the Ecole l’Etoile (Language School).

Address: 38 Boulevard Raspail, 75007 Paris

Money & Budgeting

Many participants find a combination of credit and debit cards to be the most convenient way of accessing money while abroad. It’s important to have a backup option as well in case of emergency.

Participants should bring a moderate amount (equivalent to $100 or so) of the host country currency in cash when leaving the U.S. to cover initial expenses like bus/taxi fares, snacks, and phone calls for the first couple of days. Please note that participants likely will need more than $100 for out-of-pocket expenses throughout the entire duration of the program.

France uses the euro, which is currently almost the same price as the dollar. Paris is an expensive city in general, but participants are advised to take advantage of the city's many inexpensive restaurants and food stands, as well as the city's potable tap water, which is available upon request at all bars and restaurants. There is also a local supermarket near the program residences where students are able to buy groceries.

Tipping is not required and service is always included in the bill. However, it is common to leave a few euros as a gesture of appreciation for good service at restaurants and cafés.

Trips and Activities

The program will visit the first gothic cathedral at Saint Denis, the stained glass windows and sculptural programs of the Sainte-Chapelle, Chartres, Amiens, and Reims, along with the architectural models of Paris's Cité de l'Architecture and the material objects in Paris’s Cluny Museum of the Middle Ages.

Housing

All participants are required to live in program-provided housing while abroad and are not permitted to arrange housing independently. International housing is guaranteed from the first day of the program until the official end date.

Students will live in double-occupancy rooms in an international dorm at St. John's University - Paris Campus. The dormitory includes shared bathrooms on each floor and rooms are furnished with bunk beds, desks, chairs, closets, bookshelves, and a sink. The dormitory also features both a computer lab and wifi throughout the building. Smoking and consumption of alcohol are not permitted on the premises, nor are overnight guests.

Meals

A continental breakfast is included daily at St. John's, but students will be responsible for their own lunch and dinner each day. A student cafeteria with discounted prices is located only two metro stops from the dorm.

Notes

Climate

Summer in Paris is warm, but very hot weather is uncommon. The average June temperature is around 73˚ F. July is not much hotter, with an average temperature of 76˚ F. However, heat waves are becoming more common, and most buildings are not air conditioned. There can also be periods of time when the weather becomes quite chilly and rainy, so participants are encouraged to pack accordingly.

Packing Considerations

1. Pack light! Participants will be able to do laundry and will likely return home with new items from the host country. Participants should expect the possibility of carrying their bags on several modes of transportation and up several flights of stairs alone.

2. Keep all essential items in a carry-on bag (e.g., passport and medications). 

Clothing

Participants should pack at least one dressier outfit for evenings out. Parisians dress more formally in general than Americans, especially when going out at night.
Students should also pack a pair of comfortable walking shoes, as they will be walking much more than is typical in much of the United States. Although it is summer, the French wear flip-flops or slide sandals only at the beach and they are not considered appropriate footwear for the city.

Electricity Adapters

Students should bring a “Europe” (Type C or E) plug adapter (the UK adapter will not work in France). Computers, phones, and other electronics do not require a current convertor, although smaller electronics such as hair dryers or electric razors may need both a plug adapter and a current convertor to avoid shorting out when plugged in and turned on.

Social Interactions and Cultural Considerations

French Attitudes Towards Drinking and Drug Use

In France drinking is a social act. If participants choose to drink alcohol, they should do so in reasonable amounts and indoors in restaurants and cafés, but not in the streets or on public transportation. This includes drinking in public parks and on the banks of the Seine or the Canal Saint-Martin, where rowdy behavior is neither customary nor tolerated.
Unlike some states in the U.S., drugs, even recreational drugs, are considered not only strictly forbidden, but illegal in France. If a student is caught with drugs, there is nothing the program director or anyone at Yale can do to help and chances are high that they will be prosecuted by French law.

Questions

For general program questions contact the Study Abroad staff.

Important Information Before Applying

• All YSS Programs Abroad are intensive, highly structured academic programs for Yale credit and grades.
• Students may only apply to one YSS Program Abroad per summer.
• Admission is not guaranteed. Applicants should anticipate that more students will apply than there are spots available, and Yale College students should apply to a backup Non-Yale Summer Abroad opportunity.
• Ensure that your transcript reflects how you have met the pre-requisite, if applicable, prior to applying.
• Participants must commit to the full program dates. Late arrivals and early departures are not permitted.
• Participants are required to be enrolled in all program courses.
• Participants should expect evening and weekend requirements. Students who have questions about religious observance during a YSS Program Abroad are encouraged to Meet with an Adviser.
• Program-arranged housing is required for all YSS Programs Abroad. Students are not permitted to secure independent housing. Students who have housing-related questions about placements, allergies, religious observance, or disability-related access are encouraged to Meet with an Adviser.

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