The location

Rambouillet is located 30 miles from Paris and midway between Versailles and Chartres.  It is a commune in the Regional Natural Park of the Chevreuse Valley known as the “Haute-Vallee de Chevreuse”.  Our city lies in what is essentially a clearing of the Forest of Yvelines, a forest that covers more than 74,000 acres (30,000 hectares) and that is home to many ponds, the undisturbed habitats of animal and plant life in addition to popular hiking trails and bike paths. 
Here between this beautiful forest and the vast fields of wheat in the agricultural region known as “la Beauce”, between what is known as Ile de France (the Paris metropolitan area) and Province (the rest of France), our history is very closely linked to the overall History of France.  
The Castle of Rambouillet (Chateau de Rambouillet) and its gardens have seen the rise and fall of lords, rulers, emperors and presidents.
Although there is evidence that a village has existed here since as far back as the Middle Ages, the city itself is just barely two hundred years old.  The historical center of the city has preserved the facade of the old stagecoach station located on the road to Chartres.  The 18th century homes, the Bergerie (Sheep Farm), the Queen’s Dairy Farm (Laiterie de la Reine), the City Hall built by King Louis XVI, the Palace of the King of Rome  (Palais du Roi de Rome) built by Napoleon I for his infant son, the church of the Second French Empire (1852-1870), the large homes of the wealthy often called “bourgeois” during the period known as the “Beautiful Era” (la Belle Epoque) and the seaside villas of the interwar period between World War I and World War II (1918-1939), all bear witness to the past glory of the city.

The school

This is an exceptional historical site (Our school has just received the Gold Eco-label Certification – An international program of environmental and sustainable developmental education for schools): The International Institute was founded in 1950 and provides you with the best conditions possible to study the French language in the city of Rambouillet. The Institute has a CAMPUS in the Old Mill park (parc du Vieux Moulin) located in the center of Rambouillet. The facility grounds cover some 12 acres (5 hectares) and are made up of 5 buildings, which include:

• 15 classrooms
• 1 restaurant that can hold 100 guests and that has its very own chef
• 1 multimedia room with 8 computer workstations
• 1 language lab with 20 computer workstations
• Cafeteria with bar and vending machines for hot and cold drinks and an assortment of snacks
• Piano lounge
• Nightclub
• TV and video room
• Library
• Fitness center
• Pool room
• Ping-pong room
• Fully furnished kitchen (for students) open outside of restaurant hours
• Laundromat
• Tennis court, volleyball court and soccer field
• * Wi-Fi access on school grounds and in bedrooms so you can use your portable electronic devices.

Most of these services are available 24/7, are located in the downtown area and are close to many conveniences (a 10 minute walk from the train station, 30 minutes by train from Paris or Chartres, etc.). Very few sites can offer this much!

The facilities

At the International Institute of Rambouillet – Language Planet, you will:

• Study in an institute which is historically well renowned and which has served dozens of different nationalities for more than 60 years.
• Experience the unique atmosphere of a city that is the perfect example of everything that is French
• Participate in an open and active teaching method using document and situational supports adapted to your needs.
• Speak, eat and dream in French!
• Enjoy a fun and energetic atmosphere that will leave you with great memories.  
• Join courses with smaller class sizes (6 to 14 people)
• Take a speaking and writing placement test so you can join a group with other students at the same skill level.
• Have the opportunity to take the TCF French language proficiency test at our monthly test sessions
• At the end of your language training stay, you will receive a program completion certificate indicating your level of language proficiency on the “European Scale” as well as a complete skills assessment put together by your professors.