Internships in Bordeaux, France

Bordeaux is the sixth largest metropolitan area and a major center for business in France. With over 287,000 acres of vineyards and 10,000 wine-producing châteaux, wine production is the leading industry in Bordeaux by far. A close second is tourism, more specifically wine tourism, which opens up doors for internships in tourism, marketing, and communications. Another leading industry in Bordeaux is aeronautics, so large French and multinational companies, like Dassault and Airbus, offer internship programs throughout the year too.

Internships in Bordeaux are available in both French and English, but most programs will include intensive language classes. French fluency isn’t required to intern in Bordeaux, but a basic understanding and a pocket full of essential phrases will go a long way at the office.

As an intern in Bordeaux, you can expect to work hard and play hard. The French are known for their healthy work-life balance. A 35 hour work week is the standard across the country, and recently new labor legislation has been passed asking that employers and employees disconnect from work at the end of the work day. This means you won’t be receiving urgent emails or phone calls during happy hour, so you’ll be able to enjoy that glass of vin rouge (red wine) after work.