Language
In 1981 adult linguistic and cultural exchanges began between the twinned cities of Cardiff and Nantes. They continue to provide opportunities for participants to improve their linguistic skills in French and English as well as offering opportunities to visit Nantes and further afield. A limited language level is not seen as a barrier to taking part and participants at all language levels are welcome on the Exchange.
Publicity
Advertising flyers are displayed and booking forms issued for the following year’s visits once participants costings and Exchange dates are confirmed. The relevant details are then placed on the Cardiff-Nantes.org website and our Facebook page.
Bookings
To make an initial application to participate in the Exchange, you will need to submit;
a) An application form to become a member of the Association for Cardiff-Nantes Exchange for 12 months
and
b) An application form to join the Cardiff-Nantes Exchange
You will be asked to pay the amounts specified in the 2 Application forms for the stated year which can be found on our website in each forms specific download area.
The final balance for the Exchange costs will usually be payable up to 2 months before the date of our visit to Nantes.
Matching
The application form for the Exchange asks for details of participants, including level of French /English and leisure interests. This enables the organisers to match Cardiff and Nantes people with similar interests. The matching is carried out by the Cardiff side.
Couples are welcome on the Exchange and as far as possible will be hosted together.
Information Meetings
A few weeks before each stage of the Exchange takes place, information meetings are held in Cardiff which provides a good opportunity to meet other participants as well as receiving details of their French guests/ hosts, travel arrangements ,details of the programme of excursions and events and other information to help the visits go smoothly.
The Cardiff Stage
The group from Nantes (about 20-25) travel to Cardiff by coach and ferry, staying with Cardiff hosts living across the city. Our guests arrive late on a Saturday evening in King Edward VII Avenue at the end closest to Corbett Road. Our guests depart early the following Saturday morning.
Hosts are expected to provide breakfast, a packed lunch (if necessary), a main meal in the evening and transport to/from the pick-up point for daily excursions. Confirmed Pick-up points will be identified to you at the Information Meeting.
A programme of visits to local places of interest in and around Cardiff and further afield is arranged by the Cardiff organising committee, using the French coach. Hosts organise their guest’s journey to/from the departure point. Cardiff hosts are encouraged to join the excursions where they can.
The Nantes Stage
The Cardiff participants (usually between 20-25) travel to Nantes, staying with Nantes hosts across the city. The French Committee organise a programme of visits using the Welsh coach. French hosts have the responsibility of organising their guest’s journey to/from the departure point and joining the excursions where they can. Our visit always includes an Exchange dinner for guests and hosts as well as a daytime formal reception at the Mairie in Nantes.
Arrangements for travel to and from France
Our Welsh Coach travels from the National Museum for Wales in Cardiff city centre, early afternoon on the Saturday heading for Portsmouth. Our overnight ferry crossing company insists all passengers must hire cabins for our lengthy voyage to St Malo. We arrive in Nantes at midday on Sunday morning.
Our return journey involves a very early start from Nantes, taking a daytime ferry from St Malo arriving about 22.00 hrs outside the National Museum for Wales in Cardiff city centre.
For General enquiries: Email: nantes.exchange@yahoo.co.uk
Data Protection
Association for Cardiff-Nantes Exchange has a document setting out action the
organisation follows in relation to personal information. A copy of this is available on request or can be viewed on the Cardiff-Nantes.org website.