History school trips to Paris

Once the garden of Catherine de’ Medici’s Tuileries Palace, the Tuileries Gardens became a public park following the French Revolution of the late 18th century. Since then, it’s been a place for Parisians to meet and relax. Join in with the locals and encourage your students to use their time here to reflect upon what they’ve learned so far on your trip, as well as visit the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel – the gardens’ former monumental entrance.

Running between the Place de la Concorde in the east and the Place Charles de Gaulle and Arc de Triomphe in the west, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées fills almost two kilometres with theatres, cafes and luxury shopping – with everything from Louis Vuitton to Zara to Ladurée macarons. Commonly regarded as the "most beautiful avenue in the world", the avenue is a must-visit for souvenir shopping and dining on your school trip to Paris.

One of Paris’ most famous landmarks, the Arc de Triomphe is a magnificent monument built to commemorate Napoléon’s victory at Austerlitz. As well as honouring those who fought in the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, the arch stands atop the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from the First World War. 

There’s no better way to see Paris than onboard a river cruise along the River Seine. See the city’s finest monuments from Notre Dame to the Grand Palais as you teach your group about each landmark’s history and tales from its surrounding streets. We can’t wait to show you Paris from the water – this excursion is definitely an Equity favourite.

Visit the site of Paris's most famous landmark and the symbol of France – the Eiffel Tower. Built in 1889 by Gustave Eiffel, this engineering masterpiece dazzles at night, rightly earning its place at the centre of the ‘City of Lights’. We also recommend taking some time to explore the nearby Trocadero Gardens and its famous Fountain of Warsaw.

Often referred to as one of the trendiest areas in Paris, the Latin Quarter is where you’ll find university students and artists hanging out in excellent local cafés. As well as being a great place to stop for some pastries, this district boasts some of the best architecture in the city – students will love visiting both the Panthéon monument and nearby Luxembourg Gardens.

Visit the opulent palace once resided in by Louis XIV and by Marie Antionette with this fantastic excursion. We’ve seen school groups mesmerised by the wonders of the Palais de Versailles, as they explore 400 years of history – including the signing of the 1919 Peace Treaty – as well as the palace’s incredible gardens.

Dating back almost 400 years, the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle began as a royal garden of medicinal plants. Four centuries later, and its collection has grown exponentially; it’s now divided between four galleries covering paleontology, botany, mineralogy and evolution. A popular option for STEM groups, this excursion offers a huge variety of learning opportunities.

One of Paris’ most famous public squares, the Place de la Concorde is the largest in the French capital, set at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées. Where the public executions of King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette once took place now stand eight statues, symbolising the largest and most significant cities in France.

Île de la Cité is one of only two remaining river islands located in Paris, with history dating as far back as the 4th century when it was the site of a Roman fortress. Today, students can be inspired by the world-famous Notre-Dame cathedral, La Conciergerie and the royal chapel of Sainte Chapelle, as well as the city's oldest surviving bridge, the Pont Neuf.

We can’t wait to show you the charming district of Montmartre, which has been a firm favourite among Equity staff for years. Full of traditional Parisian patisseries and home of both the iconic Sacré-Coeur basilica and Moulin Rouge theatre, we recommend spending a whole afternoon exploring this wonderful part of Paris.

A must-visit for history students, the Conciergerie is a former courthouse and prison, where 2,780 people were imprisoned, tried and sentenced – including the last queen of France before the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette. Here, school groups can learn about the history of the building, which is now a museum, and develop their understanding of one of the most significant events in French history.

Explore several of Paris' iconic and beautiful landmarks on this guided tour, where your group will be led around the French capital by a professional English-speaking tour guide. As you wander the sights that straddle the Seine, be sure to ask plenty of questions to expand your students' experience and their overall knowledge of the landmarks you pass.

While a gruesome and ghoulish location, this excursion never fails to captivate school groups. One of Paris’ most-visited sights, the Catacombes de Paris is a small tunnel network lined with the skulls and bones of more than six million of the city’s dead, built to consolidate the city’s ancient stone quarries.

Visit the world's largest and most popular art museum on this excursion, which will bring your students up close with Leonardo da Vinci’s celebrated painting, Mona Lisa. Located by the scenic River Seine, the Louvre also houses several other top masterpieces and paintings, and is part of the Louvre Palace, which was built in the 12th century.

Look out across the City of Lights from the observation deck of the Montparnasse Tower – a 689m tall office skyscraper located in the famous area of Montparnasse. One of the tallest buildings in France, the tower is open until late, making it an ideal after-dinner stop for your students. We’ve seen groups dazzled by the tower’s panoramic views, where they can see the entire city – and the Eiffel Tower – illuminated.

Find the cultural, historical and architectural treasures of Paris’ 9th arrondissement on the right bank of the Seine, with the Palais Garnier, Boulevard Haussmann and Galeries Lafayette all worthy of a visit. Regarded as one of the architectural masterpieces of its time, the Palais Garnier offers students the chance to learn about the area’s operatic heritage, as well as the house’s architectural prowess.

Best visited on a brighter day when its stained-glass windows can be admired at their best, the dazzling Holy Chapel of Sainte Chapelle is Paris’ most elaborate Gothic monument, dating back over 750 years. Coloured light from the windows illuminate the chapel’s collection of holy relics on display, including the famous Holy Crown – a fragment of the True Cross upon which Jesus was crucified.

Founded in 1669 by Louis XIV, the Palais Garnier, also known as the 'Opéra de Paris' is a 2,200-seat opera house, regarded as one of the architectural masterpieces of its time. Visit this magnificent building and be inspired by its glory and operatic heritage, which inspired the iconic stage show, Phantom of the Opera.

Home to the nation’s largest collection of French military history, the Musée de l’Armée has spent more than 100 years in the Les Invalides complex – originally created as a hospital and retirement home for war veterans. Within the museum’s seven main spaces, students can trace 200 years of the history of French field artillery, from the French Revolution to the Second World War.

An inner-city oasis located on the border between Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter, the former royal Jardin du Luxembourg has been a place for adults and children alike to come and have fun since the 18th century. Here, students can take a break with the park’s chess, tennis and remote control boats, or stop for the free photography exhibitions and concerts in the bandstand.

The seat of the Paris City Council since 1357, the spectacular Hotel de Ville de Paris is a sight to behold for student groups visiting the French capital. The neo-renaissance building houses more than 650 years of Parisian history, while the courtyard in front of the building was used for executions during the French Revolution. Throughout the year, visitors can also explore the hall’s exhibitions and, in winter, its Christmas market stalls and ice rink.