French language school trips to Loire Valley

With its illustrious list of owners from the French king Charles VIII to Leonardo da Vinci, the Château du Clos Lucé makes for a fascinating visit within the Loire Valley for student groups. Located in the centre of Amboise, the chateau was built in 1471 and holds just as much grandeur today as it did then. The house has been a museum about da Vinci’s life since 1855.

Known as the European Park of the Moving Image, this fantastic educational theme park offers more than 25 original experiences through various multimedia, cinematography and audio-visual techniques. From its Virus Attack simulator to the Hubble Mission 3D adventure experiences, we think Futuroscope is the perfect excursion for students interested in science or technology.

The intriguing museum of the Rochemenier troglodyte village transports visitors back in time to two underground farms, where students will learn about the daily lives of people and animals dwelling in rock cavities. From the Middle Ages to the 1960s, troglodytes lived in this unique way, and students can gain valuable knowledge about the distinctive aspects of life in such settlements.

A major attraction and one of the best known chateaux of the Loire Valley, the Château de Chenonceau mesmerises every student we bring here. Groups can study the chateau’s unique blend of late Gothic and early Renaissance architecture at play, while observing the beauty of the chateau’s gardens. Beautifully constructed on stilts atop the River Cher, the chateau also makes for a fantastic group photo opportunity!

Dating back to at least the Roman period, these two grottoes in the Loire Valley hold a wide selection of treasures to uncover, and are a great location for school groups to learn about rock formations. Students can point out stalactites, visit an underground lake, and even find a Gallo-Roman cemetery in the caves, where the stone has also been harvested to create the local châteaux.

Dedicated to mushrooms, this fascinating museum – the largest mycological exhibition in Europe – showcases more than 250 species of fungi, and their significance in nature and culture. Students can explore the ecological roles of mushrooms and their cultural importance, aligning with learning objectives related to environmental science and cultural studies.

A visit to a goat’s cheese farm offers a unique insight into French agriculture, where school groups will have the opportunity to visit the farm, feed the goats and taste fresh dairy produce as soon as it’s created. A laid-back excursion we know they’ll enjoy.

One of the quintessential riverside towns of the Loire Valley, Amboise is a beautiful medieval commune filled with half-timbered buildings and a fairytale château. The Château d'Amboise is its most famous landmark, the grand 15th-century residence of King Charles VIII featuring Leonardo da Vinci's tomb, as well as royal chambers, gardens and underground passageways.