PRACTICAL INFORMATION


THINGS TO BRING

Please be prepared for any kind of weather. Although it’s usually warm, 75 to 90 degrees, there are occasional cold snaps as low as 45 or 50 so bring a good sweater or jacket. It can also be quite rainy so bring an umbrella. Also bring proper attire for reviews and concerts. The music students will be performing frequently and Fine Arts students are invited to attend every concert including the music faculty performances on Saturdays. (Musicians also attend Fine Arts reviews as they tend to be very curious about the architecture students’ activities.)

Fontainebleau is known for its beautiful forest  so bring some sturdy shoes for hiking and mosquito repellent. It is also hard to fill American prescriptions so bring any medicine you might foresee needing.

ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS

You will be lodged within walking distance from the Chateau, either in a dorm or with a French family.

Meals 5 days a week are included in your tuition (breakfast, lunch and dinner). We are unfortunately not able to accommodate all dietary preferences. If your dietary needs are strict, it will be up to you to make your own arrangements. It is also a good idea to bring some extra money for the extra 2 days and occasional shopping sprees and trips to Paris.

ARTS SUPPLIES

Fine Arts / Architecture Students: In the studio, you will be supplied with a desk, and light. The desktops are not equipped with parallel rulers, but T squares are available from the school.  Bring basic supplies for sketching and presentation drawings. There is an art supply store in town where you can buy papers and other necessary materials. A sketch-book is essential, especially during the trips. Do not plan on doing your work on the computer. There are no printers for personal computers. On the other hand, if you want to check your email, there are various internet cafés both in Fontainebleau and Paris, that are conveniently located. WIFI is available on certain parts of campus.

Studios will take place within the Château.

All Students are required to attend all classes, studios and reviews.

TRAVEL

> Fine Arts / Architecture Students should arrive in Paris on Thursday July 2rd. The session ends on Friday August 7th. Your residence in Paris for the 3 first nights will be: MIJE, 6 rue de Fourcy, 75004 Paris.

The metro stop is Saint-Paul (line 1) which is easy to reach by RER B from the CDG airport with one change at Châtelet-les Halles to Metro line 1, direction Chateau de Vincennes (one stop). Give yourself about an hour to reach the MIJE.

For more information check: www.mije.com for the residence and www.transilien.com for transportation from “aeroport CDG”.

A bus will pick you up from MIJE on Sunday July 5 to take you to Fontainebleau.


> Music students will be picked up with a chartered bus picking up at CDG Airport at 1:00 PM on Sunday, July 5 going to Fontainebleau. If you would like to take this bus, you must contact Jennifer Jahn (jenjahn@aol.com) to make a reservation.

The bus will meet on the DEPARTURE level of Terminal 1 at door number 20. The bus will have a sign saying AMERICAN SCHOOLS OF FONTAINEBLEAU. You will be met by our summer program director Joe Kerr.

More detailed information will be provided in June, but if you have any questions, do not hesitate to send them to Jennifer Jahn (jenjahn@aol.com).


PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO FONTAINEBLEAU FROM THE AIRPORTS:

It is a good idea to check with an agent at one of the information booths located at either airport before you embark. You should buy a ticket all the way to Fontainebleau at the airport Metro booths.

1) From Charles de Gaulle Airport follow signs for RER / SNCF.

Take the RER line B towards Paris. Get off at “Châtelet—Les Halles”.
It's a 20 to 40 minute ride depending on if it’s a direct train or if it stops at every station. Around "La Plaine Saint Denis", don’t forget to look out the window on the left for the Stade de France, built for the 1998 world cup.

At “Châtelet—Les Halles”, switch to the RER ligne A in the direction of Vincennes. It should be right across the platform. Get off at the Gare de Lyon, one stop later.

2) From Orly Airport.

Take the shuttle train to Antony, a stop on the RER ligne B (part of the Paris metro which services the suburbs). Take the RER to “Châtelet—Les Halles” and switch to the RER ligne A in the direction of Vincennes-- you will have to go up one flight of stairs and down another to a different platform. Look for signs that read Vincennes or Marne-la-Vallée or Boissy. Get off at Gare de Lyon.

Once you have arrived at the Gare de Lyon....
The Gare de Lyon is a lot like Grand Central Station in New York--many trains converge and there are many levels so it is hard to describe. Four intersecting train systems occur there: the metro (Paris intra-muros), the RER (Paris/nearby suburb), the SNCF banlieue (trains up to an hour outside of Paris), and SNCF Grandes Lignes (for every thing further out.). Just keep heading up the escalators until you see daylight and don't hesitate to ask for help.

Trains for Fontainebleau-Avon leave every hour. Look on the large sign over the tracks for trains going to MONTARGIS or MONTEREAU. The train ride to Fontainebleau-Avon takes about 45 to 50 minutes.

At the Fontainebleau—Avon station use the underground passage to the Fontainebleau side. In front of the station there is a bus stop. Take bus A and tell the driver you are going to the Château. The fare is about 1.5 Euros and the ride takes about ten minutes. Our office is located at 15 rue St. Honore - 2nd stop after the chateau and last stop before the end of the line Lilas. There will be staff there to greet you. If not, look for signs posted with further instructions.

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