Useful Tips

Having finished the winter semester at the Sorbonne University, I would like to share some recommendations that I found useful during my studies. The informative meeting for Erasmus students organised by the university was more administrative than practical. However, you are always welcomed in the Erasmus office for international students. Equally, Parismus organises Apérismus twice a month where you get recommendations in an informal setting.

Wandering in the labyrinth of the halls in Sorbonne, you are bound to discover BIS (Bibliothèque universitaire Sorbonne). An extra registration is required because your student card is not sufficient to enter. The opening hours as well as number of seats are limited. Therefore, you are likely to queue to enter the library. There is not a direct access to the majority of books as they  are in the store and you have to ask for them. The majority of departments also have their own library, which is worth visiting.

            There are many options outside the university. A registration for a new card is required. However, they are worth visiting because of their historical and architectural values. Many of them organise guided tours to help you orientate yourself and discover the architecture of the building.  Sainte-Geneviève Library is just around the corner at Place du Panthéon. The books are to be read in the library. On the other hand, Saint-Barbe Library allows you to borrow books outside of the building. BPI (Bibliothèque Publique d’Information) is a library located in Centre Georges Pompidou. Books are not lent but the books are displayed in shelfs and there are many seats. Furthermore, Ircam Médiathèque is an archive of audiovisual sources. Further from the campus, BNF (Bibliothèque National de France) offers over 15 million books. If you are interested in primary sources, there is a digital library Gallica and the Archives Nationales. Finally, the application Affluences gives you information about the available spaces in numerous libraries in Paris.

            Sorbonne’s main campus does not offer many options for eating. Moreover, the only place to eat apart from benches in the corridors is a room in the BIS. If you do not want to we become a victim of vending machines or eat home prepared food that you cannot heat, there are some tips to eat outside the campus. The university is located in a very touristic area, however, there is Monoprix five minutes away where you can buy cheaper food in the supermarket. It is equipped with seats and a microwave to be used for bought products. The nearest restaurant which is part of CROUS is Cafétéria Institut Catholique de Paris 18 minutes walk from the university. The distance is balanced by student-student prices. On the other hand, Rue de la Houchette is famous for its Greek restaurants. You will find there cuisine from all over the world for higher prices because it is a touristy area.

            These are three subjective tips for a good venue for Friday evening. Rock and Roll music is to be enjoyed in the music bar La Mécanique Ondulatoire near Bastille. La Gaîté Lyrique is a digital arts and modern music centre in the 3dr arrondissement. Paris-Prague Jazz club organises jazz concerts every Friday with a student ticket for 3 €. It can be daunting at first to navigate yourself in a foreign country, city and university. You will find soon your own places as this list is by no means exhaustive. It is a glimpse of possibilities that I discovered during my stay at Sorbonne university.

By: Eva Strnadova