School Trips to Normandy and Disneyland Paris for Cross Curricular Studies

This long embroidered scroll is the most important relic to have survived from the 11th century. Students can see the epic story of William of Normandy’s conquest of England in 1066, and consider the French and British interpretations of events. Please note: The Bayeux Tapestry Museum is currently closed for a complete renovation and is due to re-open in Autumn 2027.

This outdoor adventure park, located in Cussy, close to Bayeux offers a wide range of activities for students. The Activity Pass includes high ropes courses, mini-golf, tubing, permanent wooden maze and maize maze (seasonal), fixed track zorbing (over 12’s), peddle karting, bubble football and more! There is an on-site café and picnic area. Open April to Sep/October (on request for school groups outside of public opening times).

Students visit a local French market, bursting with delicious produce. Teams complete an assignment to buy a variety of food items using their French language skills. The items will be used for a food-based activity on their return to the Château.

This French Language challenge, designed by specialist company E3 Trails, is a team activity based on a virtual game show. The aim of the activity is to have fun and reinforce students’ vocabulary on the subject of ‘Food and Drink’. During the ‘The Battle of the Bistros’, teams must earn food stars for their bistro by undertaking various food and drink-themed activities in the town of Bayeux. The four activities are: uncovering the name of the bistro from a word search (about shopping), designing the bistro logo and tagline, ‘shopping’ for ingredients and answering true or false questions about food and drink in France.

Experience bread-making from start to finish and enjoy the irresistible aroma of fresh French bread.

Learn the art of bread-making from scratch at a farm in Normandy in this interactive activity. Students will create their own bread roll using local ingredients and traditional methods under guidance from a boulanger. While the bread is baking in the traditional wood-fired ovens, your group can explore the farm and meet its animals, and even enjoy a game of farmyard golf or taste some local produce. Students will be able to take away their freshly baked bread at the end of the session.

The British Normandy Memorial officially opened on 6^th June 2021 as a place for remembrance and reflection. Overlooking Gold Beach, just outside Ver-sur-Mer, the memorial records the names of 22,442 servicemen and women, under British command, who fell on D-Day and during the Battle of Normandy. There is an option to add on a short introduction talk from staff at the memorial and an educational booklet to complete during your visit.

Mont Saint-Michel, a gothic Benedictine abbey, is perched on a rocky islet amid vast sandbanks exposed to powerful tides. Over the years the island’s abbey has served as a prison, a fortress against the English and a monastery. As well as the abbey, your group can explore the medieval buildings of the village that grew up beneath its walls, along with stunning views.

This working goat farm allows students to see how dairy products such as milk and cheese are produced. Students can play with the goats and learn about the cheese-making process. It’s a great way to find out more about the traditional produce of the area and also presents a good chance to practice language skills and develop vocabulary. The visit includes a short educational film, a talk and a cheese tasting. Visit can be conducted in French or English.

You can choose from a range of fun and educational activities, and experienced chateau staff are on hand to ensure that the students are having fun all day and night. Available activities include: a blind trail walk, survival skills, initiative exercises, using various sports facilities for sporting games (such as the seasonal outdoor swimming pool), planting a tree and circus frenzy to name a few.

The 19 minute film ‘100 days of the Battle of Normandy’ is projected in High Definition on 9 screens. The film tells the story of the military planning, preparation and execution of the Battle of Normandy thanks to archive images gathered from English, Canadian, German, American and French archives. The Battle started with the landing of the paratroopers the night of the 5th to the 6th of June 1944, followed by the landings of troops on the Normandy beaches and lasted for three months. The end came with the liberation of Paris and the bombing of Le Havre.

In the heart of the D-Day beaches, Arromanches is renowned for its ‘Mulberry’ artificial harbour. Its remains speak of the remarkable technical feat of taking 600,000 tonnes of concrete and equipment across the Channel in wartime to serve as a base for Allied troops. The museum uses models, videos and a diorama that movingly bring life to the displays.

The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial covers 172.5 acres and contains the graves of 9,387 military dead, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations. The memorial, set around a bronze statue, shows maps and narratives of the military operations. Visitors’ centre staff are available to answer students’ questions.

This Memorial helps students study our shared past and introduces emotion and memory, using dynamic and diverse educational activities. It is possible to book a guide (at a supplement) to accompany the group on their coach to see the battlefield. A 360 degree 17 minute film to promote an understanding of our common European History opens on the 6th June 2019 to mark the 75th anniversary of the D Day Landings and the Battle of Normandy.

An impressive monument of Classical inspiration, this celebration of Napoleonic success provided a model for decades of nationalist building projects. Since 1920, it has also contained beneath its vault the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, commemorating those who died in World War I.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart dominates the city skyline thanks to its position on top of Montmartre, the highest point in Paris. The Basilica of Montmartre was dedicated to atone for the sins of the Paris Commune. It is a building of great beauty reflecting the hopes, fears and attitudes of fin-de-siècle France. Behind the Sacré Coeur is the Place du Tertre with its artists’ colony.

For those looking for a particularly French experience, head to the Musée D’Orsay, set in a former railway station. It boasts the largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces in the world, by painters such as Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Seurat and Gauguin. Students can also view sculptures, furniture and photography. Tip: Pre-booking is essential for groups

The main park of Disneyland® Paris, the action is spread out across five different themed lands. There are more than 40 rides and attractions, including Space Mountain, the Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast® and Pirates of the Caribbean, along with spectacular parades and shows.

Awaken your spirit of adventure in extraordinary, immersive words, where Disney, Frozen, Pixar and MARVEL stories come to life. Adventure has a new name at Disneyland® Paris: Disney Adventure World.

Based on the famous Astérix books, this is the second-largest theme park in France. It is set in the forest 30km from Paris and has lots of attractions to keep students happy, from Goudurix, the roller-coaster that turns you upside down seven times; to log flumes, river rafting and a ghost train. Themed areas range from Gaul to Ancient Greece and Egypt.

The Race for Time trail is a teacher-led, self-guided city tour showcasing top landmarks. Fun activities along the way promote teamwork and dynamic thinking, turning a normal walk into a sightseeing adventure! Each trail pack includes comprehensive teacher’s notes and a risk assessment document (MFL and Enrichment version available).