History School Trip to France

After a breakfast, we’ll start the day off right with a historical city tour. A city full of landmarks, students will learn all about the social and political upheaval of the French Revolution as they go.

Next, we’ll visit the National Archives, which dates back to the French Revolution as well. Here, students can see original copies of famous documents that they’ve studied, as the Archives are home to the Declaration on the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, a key human rights document of the Revolution.

This evening, we’ll head for dinner in the Montparnasse area, before ending the evening with a trip up to the top of Montparnasse Tower to watch the sun set over one of the world’s most iconic skylines.

Today, students are invited to a talk led to a descendant of a veteran of the Second World War, providing crucial insight into what the war was like for real people – an important enrichment to students’ academic studies of WWII. Following this, they’ll embark on a tour of the city tailored specifically to exploring sites of importance to Second World War studies, allowing studies to imagine Parisian life in this time.

This afternoon, do as the locals do and take the banks of the River Seine for a game of pétanque! A French game similar to boules, students will get a glimpse into the lighter side of French historical culture – and maybe even discover a new talent.

In the evening, we’ll take your group for dinner in the beautiful Montmartre area – before students watch the sunset from the Sacré Coeur Basilica.

This morning, we depart Paris and jump on a quick flight to the next destination on our history school trip – Marseille!

After checking in and dropping your bags, students will get acquainted with their new home with a walking tour, in which they’ll learn about the city’s history of migration. It’s then time for them to explore even further, as they take part in a Learning Adventure scavenger hunt!

This afternoon, we’ll jump on across the water for a visit to the Chateau d’If, located around 1.5km off the coast of Marseille. Built as a fortress in the 16th century, it was later used in the 19th century as a prison – and is famously said to have inspired Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo. 

For our final day in France, we’re taking students for a whole-day trip out to one of France’s most historic, antiquated towns: Arles. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s home to a plethora of amazing examples of Ancient Roman architecture – leftover reminders of the town’s status as an influential town during the Roman Empire. Spend some time exploring some of these fascinating sites, before breaking for lunch.

Once you’ve refuelled with a picnic at Jardin Hortus, visit some of the locations that inspired Van Gogh.  He loved Arles’ landscapes and produced 300 works of art in his time there.

This evening, your group will make your way back to Marseille, where we’ll give students the chance to explore the Notre-Dame Basilica and admire the spectacular panoramic views of the city.

Sadly, today marks the end of your history school trip to France. You’ll check out of your accommodation, ready to head home.