Networking and Living in Prangins

"There is so much going on here in Prangins," says Maureen Goodman", a member of Prangins International. "The village has a surprising number of events and activities scheduled throughout the year, from dance classes to sports and theatre groups, to its own choir, there’s a lot to chose from".

Prangins International meets the first Thursday of every month in the Café Des Alpes in the centre of the village, and members get together not just for English conversation, but to exchange information about what’s going on in the village and area.

Maureen is keen to stress that the group "isn’t just a clique of Anglophones: it’s for anyone living in the village who wishes to converse in English. Some people come to keep up with their spoken English which may not be their first language, or to meet new people – we have had many different nationalities. Some come to find a sympathetic teacher of French; some are newcomers to the area, and all are most welcome".

The day I met the group, there was a new member who had arrived in Switzerland just three days before. Michelle Riley (from Philadelphia in the U.S ) found out about Prangins International via the notice board in the village centre. Despite still being in the process of unpacking boxes, she went along to their monthly meeting and came away with a whole list of recommended addresses of doctors, schools, etc, all info gleaned from the combined knowledge and experience of the group. The village itself provides a quality of life that members of the group appreciate. Mary Wynn has been living in Prangins for many years, is a keen walker so has got to know the area well and says;"There is some stunning countryside surrounding this village, there are two local beaches down by the lake, and of course there is the chateau which is fabulous".

"Prangins itself has all the services such as a pharmacy, baker, a local shop, tea room, a chocolate shop, a post office (and even an aerodrome for light aircraft!) You don’t need to go into Nyon every day for the basics, but of course the town is on the doorstep should you need it, so you aren’t isolated."

Kathy Carp also part of the group, lives in Mélèzes which is part of Prangins commune and says: "Mélèzes is like a village within a village and it has its own activities, 200 people turned up to this year’s summer barbecue".

Barbara Güner who started Prangins International three years ago, is the driving force behind it all and also one of the founder members of the online Gazette de Prangins. Here, villagers can log onto to find out about current events, news, and place “petite anonces”. She says "The idea of Prangins International is a networking group who live in the same village, and it gives support to people who live in a foreign country (ie Switzerland) without their families" The village itself is gearing itself up for a massive celebration this Saturday the 4th October. The Swiss National Museum in the Chateau will be celebrating its 10th year with a whole host of events planned (see post below). The castle will be lit up at night by candles by a team of volunteers. If you are thinking of moving to Prangins and want to know more about the group then take a look at the gazette for contact details. The village has its own official website too. Prangins has 3,839 residents. If you live there you are called a Pranginois. The village is about a 15 minute walk from Nyon. The train no longer stops in Prangins, but it is on a bus route.