French language school trips to Brittany

Walk around the walled port city of Saint-Malo and you’ll hear enough whispers of its illustrious history of piracy and its role in the Second World War to fascinate your students. What’s perhaps most startling about the city, however, is that it was only rebuilt in the mid-20th century. School groups will love wandering Saint-Malo’s narrow streets, museums and cafes and, if you’re lucky, you may catch the excitement of a yacht race.

Discover more than 6,000 underwater species during a tour of this magnificent aquarium’s nine themed areas, which host everything from piranhas to jellyfish. We recommend spending some time at the touching pool – where students can feel the rush of fish swimming through their fingers – before walking beneath sharks and giant turtles in the underwater viewing tunnel.

Brimming with medieval charm, the Middle Age city of Dinan is an excellent excursion for student groups seeking a glimpse into 14th-century Brittany. Enclosed by nearly three kilometres of ramparts, the town has retained its half-timbered houses, displaying a rich architectural heritage that’s unparalleled throughout Brittany. Students will love strolling around, as they discover the workshop-boutiques of glass-blowers or wood gilders.

Two gems of the Côte d’Emeraude (Emerald Coast), the seaside resorts of St Lunaire and St Cast offer an excellent retreat for student groups between educational visits. With more than 4,000 years of history, the former is rich in historical monuments such as the Old Chapel, while the latter boasts a splendid beach and restaurants serving excellent Breton cuisine.

One of Europe’s largest medieval fortresses, Château de Fougères is a must-see for any school trip to Brittany. Located in the commune of Fougères, the castle was built on a protected site, benefiting from natural features such as the Nançon river, which acts as its moat. Spectacularly well-preserved, this site offers students the chance to see a medieval fortress as it would have appeared more than 600 years ago.

Boasting a stunning and picturesque port where artists flock to paint and photograph, Honfleur offers an idyllic day trip where groups can explore and sample traditional cuisine. Within Honfleur, you can also find Naturospace – a stunning tropical butterfly house that’s home to around a hundred species from South America, South-East Asia and Africa.

Transport your student group back to the Middle Ages with a visit to this iconic tidal island, which rises dramatically from the sea at high tide to the majestic Mont St-Michel Abbey. Here, students can view Europe’s highest tidal variations as they walk the fortifications, wander around the isle’s narrow alleyways, and take a break in the local creperies, before purchasing a souvenir in one of its many shops to remember their journey to the Mont.

This working farm provides the perfect backdrop to develop your students’ understanding of the end-to-end process of food production, while they learn about the importance of French farming in terms of the country’s culture. From visiting the goats, to watching cheese manufacturing and production – then, of course, some tasting – this is a unique excursion not to be missed.