In February 2009 forty KS4 & KS5 students and 4 staff took part in a History/French cross curricular educational visit to Normany and Paris.  After travelling by coach and ferry through the night we arrived at our first visiting point which was Pegasus Bridge Memorial and Museum.  We had a guided tour around the museum and walked across the bridge which was amazing to see.  We then proceeded to our next stop en-route which was to Arromanches where we took in the views of Mulberry Harbour and visited Arromanches 360 which was a film which is shown on 9 screens and projects previously unreleased footage from June 1944, it plunges the observer into the heart of the action on D-Day, then whisks you away to the present day with pictures of now peaceful locations. 

The next day the group visited Caen Memorial museum which had a number of focused exhibitions on the history from 1918 to the end of World War 2. This was then followed by a very moving visit to Cambes en Plaine British Cemetery.  That afternoon we moved on to Bayeux and experienced the amazing tapestry and Cathedral.

Day three we moved from Normandy to Paris.  We arrived in Paris late afternoon and visited the Musee d'Orsay which is the national museum which shows the artistic creation of the western world from 1848 to 1914. This was followed by a boat trip down the River Seine taking in the spectacular sights of The Eiffle Tower, famous bridges and views of the famous stained glass window of Notre Dame Cathedral.

On day four the group started the day with a visit to the Louvre Museum then took a stroll down to the Musee de l'Orangerie.  This was then followed by a walking tour of Paris which took in the sights of Place de la Concorde, Champs Elysees, l'Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame and the evening ended with dinner in Montmatre over looking the beautiful views of Paris and the Sacre-Coeur Cathedral.

The final day started very early.  Whilst making our way back to Calais we visited Arras and the Newfoundland Memorial where soldiers from all part of the UK as well as Newfoundland lost their lives in the fighting here. The students were given a very informative tour whilst walking through the trenches.  Thiepval Memorial was our final stop.  The memorial has stone panels with the names of 73,077 British soldiers who fell on the Somme in 1916 to 1917.  It was a very moving experience and brought a tear to the eyes of some of the party.

Once back at Calais a little time had been set aside for a little light shopping!  Before boarding our ferry back home.   This was a very successful trip which all the students said was worth while and very educational and very enjoyable.

Click on link below to see pictures of Normandy/Paris Trip 2008

Pictures of Normandy/Paris 2008

Forthcoming Trips - Berlin July 2010