french institute

This is an old place from the French colony where French is taught and retains its old French architecture.

very good to take photos, try and come on weekdays you might spend an afternoon at their library or run into a weekly course on foreign languages

Some of the reviews here mention different buildings and locations, all worth a visit, if you wish to get a more intimate view of the French quarter of Pondicherry and its gorgeous architecture.The first two are institutes for research scholars. They are: The French Institute at 11 rue St. LouisThe Ecole Française d'Extrème Orient (French School of Asian Studies) at 16-19 rue Dumas+ two different locations of the Alliance Française (the French cultural institute): 1st building: the main centre at 58 rue Suffren, with the language school, the public library (opening times Mon-Sat 8.30 AM to 12.30 PM – 3.30 PM to 7.00 PM, with many French magazines), and the auditorium screening films (mostly French movies with subtitles in English) every Sunday at 6 p.m.2nd building, the Maison Colombani, located at 37 rue Dumas, houses a multimedia centre, an art gallery and the Café de Flore.

French Institute is a beautiful French Architecture and you can find History of Pondicherry. Beach side the buildings and reading very interesting information.

An impressive colonial building hosting the best and valuable treasures of Pondicherry History with very kind and helpful staff. Researchers treat and retreat !

As my title of the review says it all, don't go anywhere else - just head over to this place, ask for the way to library, grab a seat by the seaside and enjoy the book that you always carried around but never read. The library is also meant to be a research center, so if you are a researcher then this is a heavenly place you have been always looking for :)Note: It is not really a tourist spot. The building is a nice French era building, with some pamplets pasted around about old Pondicherry. Also, you might not get anything to eat up there. So, go along with a small snack or sandwich :)

We visited this place on a Sunday and it was beautiful. I wanted to see the free screening that they hold ever Sunday evening at 6. The screening is however held in another building at 63 house in heritage walking area, everyone can go for the screening no registration required. The guard is particular and checks your bag, the auditorium for the screening is clean and massive. We watched the The Furie documentary on World War 1.

The architecture is totally worth seeing... Very charming.. Nice place to sit around for an hour or two

the café is located in a garden and it is quite nice to have a drink or a short meal in this peaceful ambiance.

You can have a glimpse of the colonial architecture here, though I would rate the EFEO (Ecole française d'extrême Orient) in Dumas street higher for its more sober quality.

You will have French Feeling in India, when you are around this place. It is heart of the tourist attraction so no one will miss it. Good to see around.

Nice institute. Nothing much to view here. If you are a post graduate student or you do some research, then you are allowed to access the library. Else, just a normal institute

at this place you will find most of the rajasthani students who came and stay in pondicherry for learning french language . This institute is amazing and have an equally amazing library .You will find good books if you want to learn and feel little more about french culture .This institute have many branches in india, so if you are interested in learning new languages , just visit and inquire more..........

I just casually strolled into this place, more out of curiosity. I was in for a surprise. Was able to enjoy a beautiful exhibition of photographs. Above all, the view from the first floor of the beach is lovely, a whole different angle. The plush lawns and the little coffee shop are a great place to enjoy, sit back and relax a lazy evening.

Liked : Have a coffee on the promenade. Movie and art festivalDisliked : Nobody around when we visited. ? Lunch break