Exploring Cardiff: A Youth Exchange Adventure from France

ProMo Cymru recently hosted a young person from France on a five-day Taith-funded exchange visit. This came about following a group of young people from Cardiff visiting Nantes last October.

Taith is an international learning exchange programme, where participants can immerse themselves in the culture and creative industries of a different country, making this return visit an exciting continuation of the exchange in 2024. Tristan Provost from Nantes came to explore Cardiff, building on over 60 years of twinning between the two cities. Tristan, in his own words, shares his experience of the capital city of Wales. Here’s his reflections on first impressions and key moments from his visit.

Monday

My first encounter with Cardiff was through the bus window. It’s such a charming city, with its pubs, brick houses, and plenty of green spaces. Once I arrived, I grabbed a bite at ‘Spoons’ with Marco, CEO of ProMo Cymru, a local favourite especially popular with the younger crowd. With our batteries recharged, we wandered the streets, and I got to see the galleries, the castle, the market, and even Gareth Bale’s pub for the first time.

Tuesday

My first morning in Cardiff, and I headed to the Atseinio conference. It gave me a fascinating insight into the challenges of promoting Welsh music, especially when trying to reach audiences beyond Wales. In the afternoon, I met up with my friends Mari and Mayla. They took me to St Fagans, a wonderful journey through time. Back in Cardiff, the girls showed me around the city centre, and I finally got to try the famous Welsh cakes – absolutely delicious! To wrap up the day, I went to CLWB for a WH Lung gig. An amazing show with such a diverse crowd.

Wednesday

On my second day, I attended the ‘Shaping the Future’ conference. The conference presented podcast-style talks with key figures in Cardiff’s music scene, including tour managers and event organisers. There, I met Iestyn, a super friendly and talented musician, accompanied by his trusty sausage dog dressed in a blue sweater. For lunch, I had some tasty Mexican food at the market, yum! In the afternoon, I visited the National Museum Cardiff and was blown away by its impressive collection of paintings on the 4th floor. I then headed to the bay to watch the sunset. As night fell, my friend Emyr showed me around the city, taking me to try out local specialities, from vibrant snacks on Albany Road to cosy, intimate pubs.

Thursday

I walked to the impressive Cardiff football stadium. There, I attended a conference on youth and how sport and art can help build and strengthen communities. In the afternoon, I visited Bute Park and got to meet its many squirrel residents before making my way into the castle courtyard. I then explored the ‘official’ district, checking out the government buildings, Cardiff University, and Cathays Park. I rounded off the day by watching a match at City Arms, a lovely sports pub.

Friday

It was time to head back to France. To kick off my last day, Marco treated me to a delicious breakfast at Cardiff Market, where we had a proper traditional breakfast with sausages, eggs, toast, and beans. With a full belly and a heavy heart, I said goodbye to Cardiff.

Reflection

This exchange brought young people together to share experiences, explore new cultures, and build connections. From music and history to food and new friendships. Tristan’s visit to Cardiff was a great example of how youth exchanges can inspire and bring communities closer.

ProMo Cymru is proud to support opportunities like this – connecting young people, sparking new ideas, and building connections across borders. Playing a key role in this exchange aligns with our mission to ensure young people and communities are informed, engaged, connected, and heard. A huge thank you to Taith for making this possible, and to Tristan for sharing his journey with us!