French Language & Culture Trip To Opal Coast: 5 days, 4 nights
Your cultural tour to the Opal Coast will provide wonderful opportunities for students to experience French culture, such as in the French bakery or at the snail farm, alongside extending their knowledge and experience of the French language. The 5 day tour gives you the opportunity for a day out at Bagatelle Theme Park.
Suggested itinerary
Day one
- Travel day – Calais Dragon
Day two
- Bagatelle Theme Park
Day three
- Boulangerie Visit
- Hunt Fun in Le Touquet or Boulogne sur Mer
Day four
- La Manufacture du Touquet (Biscuit Factory)
- Nausicaa
Day five
- Travel home via hypermarket
Tour gallery
Excursion Locator Map
Excursion Ideas
Educational Treasure Hunt
Subject range: Cultural, History, Language
What you’ll experience: You will get instructions, clues, tasks, a map to allow your group to explore the town with a mission in mind!
More Information: More suited to independent groups who can manage some complicated challenges. Available in Le Touquet, Boulogne sur Mer and St Omer.
Les Escargots du Bocage (Snail Farm)
Subject range: MFL, Cultural
What you’ll experience: What you’ll see: From mid-April to October, Fabienne and Sylvain welcome you to share their passion and make you discover the life of the snail from birth to plate. The visit includes: a tour of the farm park, snails, a slideshow and tasting.
Select says: A great way for students to be adventurous in trying the delicacies of another culture. The farm visits take place by appointment from 20 to 45 people.
Bagatelle Theme Park
Subject range: MFL, Cultural
What you’ll experience: Amusement and animal park set in 30 hectares of beautiful parkland between Berck and Le Touquet. The 43 attractions at this well-established traditional family park (first opened 1955) includes many white knuckle rides and breath-taking experiences, with new additions each year.
Select says: The park suits an age range of 9 – 14 perfectly.
Chocolaterie Artisanale de Beussent
Subject range: MFL, Cultural
What you’ll experience: Down the stairs by the side of the garage, tempting smells welcome you to a world of chocolate. You walk through a small chocolate shop into a basement chocolate factory. After the demonstration and tasting, you go back through the shop so that students can buy some more to take home if they choose.
Select says: This is one of the only chocolate factories in France that makes its chocolate directly from cocoa beans.
Nausicaa Centre National De La Mer
Subject range: Cultural, MFL, Science
What you’ll experience: Visit the spectacular national sea centre, one of the largest aquariums in the world. Different tours introduce groups to the wonders of the underwater world and highlights the importance of conservation of this marine biodiversity.
Select says: Don’t miss the ‘In the Eye of the Climate’ tour that explains the impact of climate change on our oceans
Biscuit Factory
Subject range: Food Technology
What you’ll experience: Learn about the process of biscuit making at a local family business. A great opportunity to buy some delicious take home presents.
Calais Dragon
Subject range: Cultural, Languages
What you’ll experience: Enjoy views of the newly renovated seafront on the back of a 12 metre high moving dragon made of steel and sculpted wood. Students will love being part of the local legend of the dragon protecting Calais! The tour takes about 20 minutes and the dragon can take 48 people maximum.
More Information: Suitable for all ages.
Saint Joseph Village
Subject range: Cultural
What you’ll experience: The Saint Joseph Village park is an open-air museum retracing the life and trades of yesteryear. (1940 to 1980). Plan around 2 to 3 hours for the visit. The museum is located 10 minutes from Calais. It is a calm and serene activity in the heart of nature.
Select says: This activity is more suited to primary school age students.
Cite Europe
Subject range: Cultural
What you’ll experience: The Cité Europe shopping centre has its roots in the town’s commercial history. There’s plenty of fun to be had after a little shopping session! At the cité de l’Europe in Calais, you’ll find a cinema, a bowling alley and even a laser game.
Azincourt 1415
Subject range: Cultural, History, MFL
What you’ll experience: Learn about the battle of Agincourt and the 100 years war that tore down the Kingdom of France in an unexpected English victory. An insight into life in the middle ages.
Bowling Calais
Subject range: Cultural
What you’ll experience: Always a popular choice, groups can enjoy a game of bowling or lazer tag with their friends. Groups can also enjoy a pizza at the bowling.
La Halte d’Autrefois Goat cheese farm– Hesmond
Subject range: Cultural, MFL, food technology, Primary Schools
What you’ll experience: Visit the goats, see the goats being milked then make some bread. Valerie the owner speaks some English.
La Chèvrerie de la Planquette
Subject range: Cultural, MFL, Food Technology
What you’ll experience: Meet the animals and learn about the process of making goat’s cheese. Have a taste of the cheese and home-made apple juice!
More Information: This visit is conducted in French so is especially good for groups wishing to practise their language skills. Suitable for primary age students.
Histoire d'Abeille (Bee Farm)
Subject range: Cultural, MFL, Food Tech
What you’ll experience: Learn about bee keeping, the hive and making honey. Have a tasting and take home a pot of honey at the end! Groups have the option of adding a candle making workshop to their visit.
Boulangerie Le Fournil Wierre
Subject range: Cultural, History
What you’ll experience: Visit a traditional bakery to see a baker at work and learn about this French art! An interactive experience where the group can practise their french with the friendly baker and have a taste of a freshly baked croissant.
La Coupole Museum and Planetarium
Subject range: Cultural, History, Science
What you’ll experience: Visit this bunker complex that was designed to be a launch base for V2 rockets during WW2 and is now a military museum and also houses a newly renovated 3D planetarium. Students will love wearing the 3D glasses in the world’s first 10k planetarium.
French Language & Culture Trip To Opal Coast: 5 days, 4 nights Accommodation
Hippotel
Location: Le Touquet
Capacity: 180
The recently renovated Hippotel in Le Touquet is set in the forest near the estuary of the Canche, and offers easy access to the beach and town centre.
Rooms: All rooms have en-suite facilities.
Facilities: Restaurant, games room, pool table, table football.
Cap d'Opale Ambleteuse
Location: Ambleteuse, north of Boulogne sur Mer
Capacity: 300
Ideally situated a 15 minute walk from the beach, this holiday village consists of 94 lodgings spread across 3 buildings. Spacious and safe, this accommodation also offers excellent group facilities.
Rooms: Adjoining lodges sleep 2-7 people, some in duplex style, all with private shower and WC.
Facilities: Restaurant, bar with terrace, multi-sports grounds, table tennis, table football, indoor swimming pool (no lifeguards).
L'Auberge La Digue
Location: Calais
Capacity: 162
Ideally located next to the beach and a short walk from the town centre, this youth hostel is very suited to welcoming groups to the Opal Coast.
Rooms: Rooms sleep 2-3 people with facilities shared between two rooms.
Facilities: 5 meeting rooms, dining room, bar, terrace, garden, pool table, table football.
L'Escale
Location: Dunkerque
Capacity: 199
Situated a 20 minute walk from Dunkerque, very near a beach, this youth hostel is a great base to explore the area.
Rooms: Bedrooms sleep 2-6 people and all offer private facilities.
Facilities: Restaurant with terrace, tv lounge, meeting rooms.
Links to Learning
Learning areas:
Learning areas:
Why not link your cultural tour to your school PSHE planning? Areas covered could include: gaining self-confidence and independence; working together and making new friends; trying new activities; enjoy healthy, safe, responsible and fulfilled lives; recognising and managing risks; take increasing responsibility for themselves.
For KS3/4 how about linking a cultural tour to the Citizenship curriculum: to enable them to manage their money on a day-to-day basis.
For KS2 – how about linking to the Foreign Language curriculum: listen attentively to spoken language and show understanding by joining in and responding; engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; develop accurate pronunciation and intonation; broaden their vocabulary and develop their ability to understand new words.
KS3 Modern foreign language: develop and use a wide-ranging and deepening vocabulary that goes beyond their immediate needs and interests; listen to a variety of forms of spoken language to obtain information and respond appropriately; initiate and develop conversations, coping with unfamiliar language and unexpected responses, making use of important social conventions such as formal modes of address; speak coherently and confidently, with increasingly accurate pronunciation and intonation.
Select Extras:
For KS2 students to practise their language skills pre-tour try these resources:
BBC Primary French – language lab
BBC Primary French – all about me (also includes French sounds video and songs)
For KS3/KS4 there are some fantastic video clips available here including situations such as a visit to the market:
KS3 BBC Bitesize – a visit to the market
KS4 BBC Bitesize GCSE resources
Have you thought of selecting a relevant movie for the coach journey? We recommend Ratatouille!
