School trips to Normandy and Brittany

CURRICULUM FOCUS - History, English, Drama, French - Keystage 3 & 4

A school tour to Normandy and Brittany is the perfect introduction to France. They are two of the most unspoilt and beautiful regions of Northern France with miles of soft, sandy beaches and lush green countryside dotted with sleepy villages and towns. Normandy is famous for its cream and cider while Brittany's seafood is second to none. Spend a few days near Bayeux to explore the Cathedral and famous tapestry telling the story of the Norman conquest of Britain. Then visit the enchanting Le Mont St Michel - France's number one tourist site. St Malo is a walled town which was rebuilt after being bombed during WW2. It is now a lovely place to spend an afternoon, walking the ramparts or window shopping in the maze of tiny streets.

Educational Resources

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Bayeux

Bayeux is a beautiful town, best known for the tapestry which was made to commemorate events in the Norman Conquest of England in1066. The tapestry was made for Reine Mathilde, wife of William the Conqueror and may have been woven in England. The large Norman-Romanesque Cathedral was built by William the Conqueror in 1077.

Le Mont St Michel

The Mont-Saint-Michel and its bay were added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1979. The Mount is depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry. In 1067, the monastery of Mont-Saint-Michel gave its support to Duke William of Normandy in his claim to the throne of England. It was rewarded with properties and grounds on the English side of the Channel, including an island renamed St Michael's Mount.

Saint Malo

Saint-Malo developed as a fortified island at the mouth of the Rance River. The town became notorious as the home of the Corsairs, French privateers and sometimes pirates. During WW2 the town was occupied by a German garrison and was heavily bombed by the Allies. Now rebuilt it has become a popular tourist destination offering fine views and interesting shops.

Grand Aquarium St Malo

The Great Aquarium near Saint-Malo is one of the major aquariums in France. The aquarium houses 11,000 marine animals from 600 different species. It covers 4,000m² and holds 2,500,000 litres of water. Students will learn about the importance of the sea and the need to reduce polluiton and manage the marine ecology. It is the second most visited tourist site in Brittany.

www.aquarium-st-malo.com

Cite de la Mer

The Cite de la Mer is an exciting museum of the sea housed in the former cruise liner terminal at Cherbourg. Opened in 1933 at the height of the Blue Riband cross Atlantic races, it is one of the biggest art-deco buildings in France. The Cite de la Mer was opened in 2002 and has 4 main areas - a submarine, an exhibition of the sea, an aquarium, and a great hall where temporary expositions are held.

www.citedelamer.com

Souterroscope

The Souterroscope at Caumont has been created in a former slate quarry and offers a fun and educational experience. Students will be amazed by the vast cathedral-sized caverns that have been hewn out of the rock. Most will be fascinated by the scientific aspects of this underground world, learning about the water cycle and exploring the geology trail, which provides a timeline of the universe.

www.souterroscope-ardoisieres.fr

Dinan

The medieval walled town of Dinan sits on a hilltop and has many fine old buildings some as early as 13th century. The town retains a large section of the city ramparts, part of which can be walked around. Visits include the Jacobins Theatre dating from 1224, the flamboyant Gothic St Malo's Church, the Romanesque St Saviour's Basilica and the Château de Dinan.

Dinard

Dinard is on the Côte d'Émeraude of Brittany. Its beaches and mild climate make it a very popular holiday destination. In the late 19th century British aristocrats made Dinard popular as a fashionable summer resort and they built stunning villas on the cliff tops and exclusive hotels such as the 'Le Grand Hotel' during the French "Belle Epoque". There is a very fine beach.

Honfleur

Honfleur is on the bank of the Seine, close to the Pont de Normandie. It is especially known for its old, beautiful picturesque port, characterized by its houses with slate-covered frontages, painted many times by artists, including Claude Monet and the école de Honfleur (Honfleur school) which contributed to the appearance of the Impressionist movement.

Pont de Normandie

The Pont de Normandie bridge took 7 years to build and opened on 20 January 1995. At that time the bridge was both the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world and had the record for the longest distance between piers for any cable-stayed bridge. The design was chosen because it was both cheaper and more resistant to high winds than a suspension bridge.

4 Day Tour to Normandy and Brittany from £219

Day 1: Travel via Calais to Normandy and our hotel near Bayeux.
Day 2: Visit to the medieval town of Bayeux. We could first visit the Cathedral and later see the famous tapestry* which celebrates his victory over Harold at the battle of Hastings in 1066.
Day 3: Visit to Le Mont St Michel to visit the famous monastery (a World Heritage site). We could have some free time exploring the shops and narrow lanes at the foot of the mount. The climb up to the Abbaye at the top of the mount is worth the effort*. Visit to St Malo - the famous walled town in Brittany with wonderful views across the sea. Time to explore the shops and then walk around the town on the ramparts. Alternatively you could visit the Grand Aquarium of St Malo*.
Day 4: Visit to the beautiful fishing port of Honfleur (made famous by the Impressionist painters) via the stunning Pont de Normandie.

5 Day Tour to Normandy and Brittany from £269


Day 1: Travel via Calais to Normandy and our hotel near Bayeux.
Day 2: Visit to the medieval town of Bayeux. We could first visit the Cathedral and later see the famous tapestry* which celebrates his victory over Harold at the battle of Hastings in 1066. Later we can have a look around the town.
Day 3: Visit to Le Mont St Michel to visit the famous monastery (a World Heritage site). Here we could have some free time exploring the shops and narrow lanes at the foot of the mount. The climb up to the Abbaye at the top of the mount is worth the effort*. Visit St Malo - the famous walled town in Brittany with wonderful views across the sea. Time to explore the shops and then walk around the town on the ramparts. Visit to the vibrant resort of Dinard and the old town of Dinan. Alternatively you could visit the Grand Aquarium in St Malo.*
Day 4: Visit to Granville on the west of the Cherbourg peninsular followed by a visit to the Cite de la Mer* in Cherbourg followed by a visit to the amazing underground son et lumiere at the Souterroscope*.
Day 5: Visit to the beautiful fishing port of Honfleur via the stunning Pont de Normandie.

*extra

1 or 2* hotels or school centre

Students share multi-bedded rooms on a Full Board basis.

The Accommodation centres are used exclusively by schools and youth organisations and are often beside a beach. They have class rooms that can be booked for use by your group.