Daily life at ENSP
As the world’s premier school dedicated to the pastry arts, École Nationale Supérieure de Pâtisserie (ENSP) offers a state-of-the-art learning environment with a vibrant campus life.
The student experience does not end at the campus gates, however. ENSP’s home, Yssingeaux, and its surrounding area provide a rich selection of things to see and do, while France’s second city Lyon is also close by.
Discover more about life at ENSP and get a taste for how our students spend their free time.
Events & Festivals
Cultural events and happenings are integral to life in France, bringing communities together in celebration throughout the year.
Here we highlight some of the events that ENSP students can take part in:
Yssingeaux Carnival
A festive weekend held in April each year, featuring a fair, ball, parade and costume contests.
Yssingeaux Comedy Festival
Each September/October the town welcomes visiting actors and comedians for live performances.
La Course des Poulettes
An annual run/walk in aid of the French cancer charity ‘Ligue Contre le Cancer’, which takes place in October. Open to women, men and children.
End-of-year celebrations
Yssingeaux comes alive during the festive season, with a Christmas Market, fireworks display and carriage rides among other attractions.
Sports & Activities
The mild climate and beautiful terrain of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region provide a superb environment to enjoy sports, leisure and outdoor activities.
What you can experience is limited by your own imagination, but a few suggestions include:
Via Fluvia
One of France’s most famous ‘green’ cycling routes stretches for some 90km and is ideal for traffic-free walking, cycling, rollerblading or scootering.
Les Sucs Aquatic Cente
Located in Yssingeaux, this modern aquatic complex offers a sports pool, leisure pool, and relaxation area.
Sports centers and complexes
The local area has several sports complexes to choose from, including Choumouroux Omnisport Complex offering judo, handball, gymnastics, table tennis, karate, soccer, volleyball. There’s also Montbarnier Sports Center, which features a skatepark and boxing club, plus tennis and padel courts, archery and triathlon.
Planète Bowling
For fun activities whatever the weather, Yssingeaux has its own bowling alley which also offers pool tables, arcade games and a bar.
Local Attractions
The ENSP campus is located just 200 meters from the center of Yssingeaux, a town rich in attractions and with lots more to explore in its surrounding area.
From farmers’ markets to historic churches to a choice of some 20 restaurants, our students have plenty of downtime options. Highlights include:
Corbœuf Ravine
This is the largest weekly market that takes place in the Haute-Loire department. The market trades every Thursday from 8:00am to 1:00pm.
Municipal Theater
Formerly the town’s prison, this building returned to life as a cultural center after a comprehensive refurbishment at the turn of the century. Today, this historic space offers multidisciplinary event seasons showcasing dance, theater and music.
Chapelle des Pénitents Yssingeaux
This historical monument dates back to the 13th century, with other parts added subsequently including the bell tower completed in 1818. The chapel is free to visit individually and group visits can also be arranged.
Ebersberg Garden and Valentin Park
These two attractive green spaces can both be found in Yssingeaux town center.
Attractions Nearby
There’s a reason why France is among the world’s top tourism destinations: visitors never run out of things to see and do.
Here’s a flavor of the sights and attractions which are within easy reach of Yssinegaux.
Lambinet Museum (Versailles)
Known as “Auvergne’s Colorado” this is a must-see natural site in Haute-Loire. The canyon of multicolored clays is a geological curiosity dating back 40 million years, bringing to mind the landscape of the American West.
Lac Bleu (Blue Lake) Champclause
As its name suggests, this crater lake is famous for its spectacular color. It’s man-made too – the result of generations of quarrymen removing stone used for roofs throughout the region.
Skiing at Les Estables and Mont Meygal
Whether your preference is downhill (Les Estables) or cross-country (Mont Meygal) you have options that are within easier reach than the major French alpine resorts.
Lake Lavalette
A man-made lake resulting from the construction of the Lavalette Dam, this popular attraction offers swimming and watersports, as well as sailing, canoeing and paddleboarding. You can also hike/mountain bike around the lake perimeter.