Combined humanities tour to Normandy by coach: 4 days, 3 nights
Similar tours
Suggested itinerary
Day one
Depart from school by coach
Connect with channel crossing
Stop at Honfleur en route
Arrive at accommodation
Day two
Arromanches 360 Cinema
Arromanches Landings Museum
Longues-sur-Mer
American Cemetery
Day three
Mont St Michel
Mont St Michel Abbey
Day four
Depart accommodation
Stop en route at Bayeux
Bayeux Tapestry and Cathedral
Return back to the UK on coach
Tour gallery
Excursion locator map
Excursion Ideas
Abbey-aux-Dames - The Woman's Abbey, Caen
Subject range: MFL, Cultural, History, RS
What you’ll experience: The abbey was founded around 1060 by Matilda of Flanders and has an interesting history including accommodating girls from the Norman aristocracy until the French Revolution, being a barracks, a poorhouse and a hospice. The abbey church is an excellent example of Norman Romanesque art and the body of Queen Matilda rests under a Tournai black marble slab in the chancel.Select says: There is much to admire with the rich sculptures and the column capitals are adorned with fantastic animals taken from the bestiary and treasures from the first crusade.
Arromanches 360 Circular Cinema
Subject range: History
What you’ll experience: A film about the terrible Battle of Normandy taken from archive images from around the world is projected in high definition on 9 screens. This film is a tribute to soldiers from all countries and to the 20,000 civilians who were killed during this battle for the liberation of Europe.Select says: A preview can be viewed on Arromanches Circular Cinema website. There is a great view of Mulberry Harbour from up here, and views of Bayeaux town and the coast line.
Arromanches: D-Day Landings Museum
Subject range: History
What you’ll experience: The museum has five different sections including: a gallery of working models overlooking the historic site (guided tour), a diorama with special light and sound effects that brings the early hours of D Day to life, the hall of the Allied Nations museum collections, a film featuring archive footage, and shops.Select says: The museum overlooks where one of the Mulberry Harbours was constructed, and its remains can be seen a few hundred metres from the shore. The beach is a great place to stop for lunch and have a bit of fun after the museum. Encourage the students to re-enact what they think happened as the soldiers landed on the beaches.
Memorial Museum and Bridge
Subject range: History
What you’ll experience: A museum about WWII, dedicated to the heroic action of the 6th British Airborne Division during the battle which took place on the beaches of the landing in Normandy in June to September 1944. Guided visits, within a thematically laid out exhibition hall, enable the visitors to discover the missions of the division and view hundreds of historical objects and photos.Select says: The original Bénouville Bridge, renamed Pegasus Bridge after the liberation, is on display in the park of the museum. An excellent insight into the planning and execution of one of the most important actions of the invasion. This is a lovely place to stop for lunch by the riverside.
D-Day Beaches
Subject range: History
What you’ll experience: Utah, Omaha, Gold Beach, Juno Beach and Sword Beach were stormed by Allied soldiers in the morning of June 6th 1944. A visit to the beaches will help your students gain a real feel for the environment and help them imagine events within the settings.Select says: A visit to Omaha Beach helps to understand the importance of timing and the problems that had to be overcome for the invasion to be a success. Any of the beaches are a wonderful place to stop for lunch.
Juno Beach Centre and Juno Park
Subject range: History
What you’ll experience: This is a memorial and an educational museum. The Juno Beach Centre shows visitors the importance of Canadian involvement in the Second World War – its troops, navy and industrial effort, which proved vital to the Allies. There are various multimedia interactive terminals available to visitors.Select says: There are superb educator resources available on the Juno Beach Centre website for use before and after your tour. Certain tours allow you to see up close and personal military clothing and other items used during the war.
Normandy American Cemetery
Subject range: History
What you’ll experience: The cemetery site covers 172.5 acres and contains the graves of 9,387 military dead, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings. On the Walls of the Missing there are 1,557 names inscribed. The memorial consists of a semi-circular colonnade with an exterior gallery at each end containing large maps and narratives of the military operations. There is also an orientation table depicting the landings in Normandy.Select says: To get the most out of your visit we recommend booking a free guided tour. This cemetery was featured in Saving Private Ryan. You can access the beach from here down a lot of steps, again you could encourage the students to re-enact what they think happened when soldiers landed.
Château de Fontaine-Henry
Subject range: MFL, Art, History
What you’ll experience: Château de Fontaine-Henry is a family Renaissance residence handed down over the generations and has a collection of period paintings and furniture. Guided group tours are in English as well as French.Select says: A great location for students to bring their sketch pads and pencils. The château has distinctive high, steep roofing and sculpted exterior.
Honfleur
Subject range: MFL, Art, Cultural, Geography, Food Technology
What you’ll experience: A town with a rich artistic and historical heritage, Honfleur has beautiful old houses, narrow paved streets, monuments, little shops, traditional restaurants, galleries, artists’ studios, a fishing harbour and a marina.Select says: The changing light on the Seine estuary inspired Monet, Boudin, Courbet, and many others. Great place to stop for lunch on route to your destination or on the way home to break up the journey.
Mont Saint-Michel and Abbey
Subject range: MFL, Cultural, History, Geography, RS
What you’ll experience: Mont St-Michel is in the heart of a great bay that has the highest tides in Europe. After going through the Boulevard Gate and the King’s Gate fortified with its portcullis, you will find the main street with museums, shops and houses dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. After admiring the Abbey church, you can enjoy the beautiful view over the bay from the ramparts path.Select says: The Abbey was turned into a prison during the days of the French Revolution and Empire, and needed to be restored before the end of the 19th century. You must transfer to the local bus over the causeway as coaches and cars are now restricted. This is due to a regeneration project going on in the area currently – more information is available at the visitors centre near the car park before you go over the causeway.
Bayeux Tapestry Museum
Subject range: MFL, Art, Cultural, History
What you’ll experience: The Bayeux Tapestry is a unique source on the 11th century beginning with Harold’s eventful journey to Normandy through to the Battle of Hastings. Visits are by audio-guide giving commentary on the scenes.Select says: There is a simplified audio version in English especially for children.
Bayeux Cathedral
Subject range: MFL, Art, Cultural, History, RS
What you’ll experience: The cathedral of Notre-Dame in Bayeux is an impressive building with a mix of Romanesque architecture in the 11th century crypt and Gothic in the 13th-century nave. The crypt contains some beautiful murals and the stained-glass windows in the chapel are stunning.Select says: Read the diagram on the stairs before you descend into the crypt, as it gives some information about the images below.
William the Conqueror's Castle, Falaise
Subject range: MFL, Cultural
What you’ll experience: William the Conqueror, the son of Duke Robert of Normandy, was born at the castle in about 1028. William went on to conquer England and become king and possession of the castle descended through his heirs until the 13th century when it was captured by King Philip II of France. The tour uses computer tablets to show the castle as it was lived in together with a description of the history of the Normans.Select says: There are lots of stairs to climb, but there’s a lovely view over Falaise from the castle heights.The D-Day Story Museum - Portsmouth
Subject range:
Visit the D-Day landing museum in Portsmouth to see the preparations for this historic event from the UK side of the channel. See the stunning imagery, audio-visual presentations, authentic vehicles and hands-on interactives help to bring the story to life. Based on ordinary people working together to achieve the extraordinary, The D-Day Story features the experiences of men, women and children.
Combined humanities trip to Normandy by coach: 4 days, 3 nights Accommodation
Château du Baffy
Location: Colombiers-sur-Seulles
Capacity: 110
The Château is only 6 kilometres from the picturesque seaside town of Courselles-sur-Mer with its yacht harbour and sandy beaches, and is also on the doorstep of Bayeux and the World War II landing beaches. It's the perfect base for groups to enjoy the wealth of excursions and educational experiences on offer in this historical area.
Select says: The Château du Baffy has a main building and the adjacent Villa Mathilde - both buildings accommodate a full coach capacity, so groups can enjoy sole-occupancy of their building. Our Château has been a highly popular choice for dozens of UK schools in the past fifteen years and will now be operated by our own team, including our renowned French chef Thierry!
One of our teachers says, “Beautiful setting – a great place to take school groups. Plenty of outdoor space to run around and very French feeling dining room. Ideal location to explore this wonderful area.”
Rooms: The Château sleeps up to 110 persons in 2-5 bedded rooms, all with en-suite bathrooms.
Facilities: There are two restaurants, a teachers' lounge, a sun-terrace, and a meeting room. Outside there are lawned gardens and a tennis court, as well as a barbeque area, plus a new 100 metre squared sports hall!
UNCMT Tailleville
Location: Tailleville
Capacity: 50
Tailleville is a traditional rural hamlet just 3km from Courseulles and 12km from Arromanches. The UNCMT is set in its own grounds and is a great accommodation for school groups, with classrooms available if required as well as plenty of enclosed outside space.
Rooms: Mostly en-suite rooms, some shared facilities.
Facilities: Restaurant, meeting rooms, table tennis, volleyball.
CPCV Normandie
Location: Houlgate
Capacity: 94
Located in its own grounds in the attractive seaside resort of Houlgate, just 50m from the seafront and beach, also within easy walking distance of the town centre.
Rooms: All rooms have en-suite facilities.
Facilities: Restaurant, TV room, lounge area, table tennis.
Hotel le Canada
Location: Ouistreham
Capacity: 55
Located in Ouistreham 200m from Sword Beach, one of the famous sites of the Second World War where British troops landed. The town centre is only 500m away.
Select says: Groups can get packed lunches delivered and take evening meals at a local restaurant close by.
Rooms: All rooms have en-suite facilities.
Facilities: Breakfast room, free Wi-Fi.
Le Home du Cotentin
Location: Agon-Coutainville
Capacity: 170
This property occupies an ideal position just 50m from the seafront in Agon-Coutainville. Le Home du Contentin is located between Mont-Saint-Michel and the landing sites from June 1944, in front of the islands of Jersey and Guernsey.
Rooms: All rooms have en-suite facilities.
Facilities: 2 dining rooms, meeting / classrooms, free Wi-Fi, games room.
Links to Learning
Learning areas:
KS3
History
- History – D-Day and History as part of ‘the Second World War and the wartime leadership of Winston Churchill’
- Norman Conquest
- Christendom, the importance of religion
Geography
- Management for tourism
- Physical geography ie coastal features
- Farming and rural study
- Urban Study
- Tourism Management (castle, markets etc)
RS
- Observe and understand varied examples of religions
- Understand the challenges of commitment to a community of faith or belief
