School Trips to Boulogne and the Côte Opale

CURRICULUM FOCUS - French, History, Drama, Religious Studies, Business Studies KS 2, 3, 4

So near yet so French. The coastal region near Calais and Boulogne has long been popular with the British. Here you will find miles of clean golden sand and gracious old villas in the seaside resorts of Le Touquet and Stella Plage which retain the charm of the Belle Epoque. For a school group this is a very accessible part of France and yet the atmosphere is very French. Visit local markets, play games on the vast beaches and explore the local sights – not forgetting a visit to the Aqualud Waterpark at Le Touquet or the Bagatelle Theme Park at Merlimont.

3 Day School Trip to Picardy from £179

Day 1: Travel via Calais with optional visit to Nausicaã* (France’s National Sealife Centre) or the Aqualud Waterpark* at Le Touquet Plage.
Day 2: Spend the day at the Bagatelle Theme Park at Merlimont* or visit the seaside resort of Berck-s-mer in the morning and later the historic port of St Valéry-s-mer, with its tourist steam railway.
Day 3: Visit to a chocolate factory*, a market, a bakery* or a sweet factory* followed by a visit to a hypermarket then return to Calais.

4 Day School Trip to Picardy from £235

Day 1: Travel via Calais with optional visit to Nausicaã* (France’s National Sealife Centre) or the Aqualud Waterpark* at Le Touquet Plage.
Day 2: Spend the day at the Bagatelle Theme Park at Merlimont* or visit the seaside resort of Berck-s-mer in the morning and later the historic port of St Valéry-s-mer, with its tourist steam railway.
Day 3: There are many options – enjoy a French market or spend the morning in Boulogne old town followed by the afternoon walking the ramparts in Montreuil-Sur-Mer, the setting for ‘Les Misérables’ by Victor Hugo. For historians, consider a visit to La Coupole*, the huge WW2 German bunker at St Omer where the V2 rockets were launched against London or further afield, the Vimy Ridge WW1 memorial on the Somme (with free guided tour of the tunnel network).
Day 4: Visit to a chocolate factory*, a market, a bakery* or a sweet factory* followed by a visit to a hypermarket then return to Calais.

* Extra charge.

Boulogne

Boulogne is a very popular visit for school groups. The old town has a wonderful cathedral and lots of traditional shops. In the Middle Ages it was fought over by the French and the English and during the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon amassed La Grande Armée in Boulogne to invade the United Kingdom in 1805.

Parc Bagatelle Theme Park

This theme park has constantly improved its rides, its shows and its range of animals in the small zoo. Take a ride down the Canadian River Run, go to Torture Island (if you dare) and search for gold in the Sunken Gold Mine. The newest ride called the Raft has been likened to being sucked down a plughole! The Parc is particularly suitable for students aged 10yrs to 14yrs old and can be visited for half a day.

www.parcbagatelle.com

Montreuil-sur-mer

Montreuil-sur-Mer is surrounded by medieval ramparts. Montreuil was the setting for much of the early part of Victor Hugo's novel Les Misérables. The ramparts have a walk which skirts the town offering lovely views of the surrounding countryside. The town itself is medieval with a large square lined by traditional shops.

www.tourisme-montreuillois.com

Nausicaa Sea Life Centre

The French National Sea Centre in Boulogne is one of the biggest Aquariums in the world and also a science centre entirely dedicated to the relationship between mankind and the sea. The modern centre is divided into one floor for each ocean and has aquariums featuring sealife from every sea in the world.

www.nausicaa.fr

St Valery-sur-Somme

Saint-Valery-sur-Somme is a seaside village and popular tourist destination because of its medieval ramparts, Gothic church and long waterside walk. Saint-Valery has a station for the narrow gauge "Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme" (Somme Bay Railway) which is now largely a tourist attraction.

www.saint-valery-sur-somme.fr

Chocolaterie (Chocolate factory tour)

What better way to learn about the process of making chocolate! We can arrange a tour of an artisanal chocolate factory in a quiet village near Le Touquet. Students can see how handmade chocolates are produced and then taste the end product. There is a chance to buy some to take home (or as a present for their teacher).

Aqualud Waterpark, Le Touquet

The Aqualud waterpark has a giant indoor pool with waves, ‘rocky' slides, jacuzzis, solarium. There is also an outdoor section open in summer with 3 more pools, flumes and rides. The Black Hole and the Twister are great fun. The all year-round water park is kept at a temperature of 27 degrees. There are lifeguards on duty.

www.aqualud.com

Accommodation - 1 or 2 star hotels and school centres.

Students share multi-bedded rooms on Full Board basis (Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner).