Must-See Historical Destinations on School Day Trips to France

School day trips to France can be thrilling for students of history, especially when you consider how closely tied it is to Britain through times past. It also helps that France is one of the most convenient foreign countries to visit, thanks to its close proximity. A quick ferry ride from the southern tip of England will allow groups to dock at one of the many ports of France.

If, however, you are not quite certain just what to put on the itinerary of school day trips to France, these historically significant destinations may help.

Verdun and Somme

The Great War – known later on as World War I – was one of the most terrible losses of life in modern history. It shattered many countries and very nearly broke Europe itself. Students on school day trips to France can travel around to see the many tributes to the fallen of WWI in Verdun and Somme. The latter is the site of Britain’s largest single-day combat loss in history, and the former a grim reminder of how the war scarred not only the buildings made by man but the very earth itself. The Underground Citadel, the World Peace Centre, the Ossuary, the Lochnager Crater, the Thiepval British Memorial, and the Somme 1916 Museum – all these exist to remind us of the horrors man can inflict upon one another and ourselves.

Normandy

World War I was devastating enough, with its grinding trench warfare and horrifying poison gas attacks, but World War II is what shaped the world today as we know it. This is where Normandy comes in as a top destination for school day trips to France. Its wide, expansive beaches were the site of the world’s biggest amphibious invasion, with numerous tributes and museums marking the turning point of the war. Visit Omaha, Gold and Juno beaches where allied troops first landed, and then move on to Pegasus Bridge and the vital role it played in the allied victory in France. Finish the trip by paying a visit to the ominously named Overlord Museum, to learn more about what happened between the landings and eventual liberation of Paris.

Paris

Moving a step away from war, the city of Paris is in itself a colourful city that has been graced with World Heritage status. Many excursions inevitably lead to the City of Lights, thanks to its numerous historical memorials and museums. The Versailles Palace, the Musee de la Resistance, Les Invalides and the iconic Eiffel Tower – all these pay tribute to the eras that the city has witnessed and oftentimes shaped. Simply meandering through the streets of Paris is in itself a lesson, thanks to the sheer history permeating the stones and slate that comprise its structures.

If you are on the lookout for excursions with a historical twist for students, make sure to consider these top destinations.

Angela Bowden works for STS (School Travel Service), the UK's largest educational travel company, providing tours and school day trips to France for secondary schools, primary schools and colleges. Tours with STS can encompass a wide range of learning opportunities to exciting worldwide destinations.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.