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What It's Like To Travel With DC's Alliance Française

Posted on October 30, 2023   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Kaela Cote-Stemmermann

Kaela Cote-Stemmermann

A french chateau

My summer home in the French country, which you can visit if you go on this trip. (Sarah Diligenti/Alliance Francaise)

This "3 Questions With" comes from a sponsored interview in partnership with Alliance Française.

We chatted with Alliance Française, a local non-profit providing D.C. residents with all the expertise on French culture, from wine and food to fashion.


What exactly is Alliance Française?

“So, Alliance Française is an independent non-profit. So we're not affiliated with the French government. We offer French classes of all levels and cultural events. We also partner with French-speaking embassies like Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco, or Madagascar to host cultural events. And sometimes we even offer trips!”


Right, so Alliance Française is taking some Washingtonians on a fashion trip to Paris next April 21-28. What is that all about?


“Yes! We will be meeting fashion designers. We will have dinner one night with a few fashion designers and go to their workshops. We’ll have a welcoming and closing dinner, a perfume masterclass, and perfume making. We will visit some locations of fashion history including museums. The trip price is around $5,000, not including airfare, and includes breakfast, the room, and all activities. The deadline to sign up is in March.”

Une baguette s’il vou plaît!

Une baguette s’il vou plaît! The only French I know. (Sarah Diligenti/Alliance Francaise)

If one doesn’t have the budget or time to go to Paris, how else can one participate?

“Our cultural offerings are not only focused on fashion. We have French author readings. The next one will be in November with Giuliano d'Ampoli. We also have lecturers who can come to discuss everything from climate change to the French influence in D.C. During the evenings, we have wine tastings and music and film festivals.”

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