Amiens and Arras offer your students the chance to experience an authentic French Christmas on your school trip.
Explore one of France’s most charming cities and a real hidden gem, Amiens.
If you’re looking for a smaller destination with plenty of character that’s guaranteed to get your students talking, Amiens could be the one for you.
Most famous for its spectacular Gothic cathedral (which is an important site on the Pilgrimage Route of Santiago de Compostela), Amiens is also in the Somme and so offers plenty of opportunities to explore WW1 history. In fact, the cathedral has a chapel dedicated to British soldiers lost during the war.
This lovely city is also the perfect place in which to get a taste of France. It was home to renowned author Jules Verne and it’s still possible to enjoy macarons made by the family of Madame Macaron herself.
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Why visit Amiens?
Fascinating history and culture
Amiens offers plenty of history and culture to explore. The city is perhaps most famous for its iconic 13th-century Gothic cathedral, which is the largest of its kind in France and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It was also the scene for the opening battle of the Hundred Days’ Offensive, which eventually led to armistice with Germany and the end of WW1. And it was once home to French author Jules Verne, who lived in the city from 1871 until his death in 1905.
Fantastic French Cuisine
If your group are interested in French cuisine, they’ll be pleased to discover that the city boasts a number of local delicacies, including both macarons d’Amiens and tuiles amienoises. And don’t miss out on a boat trip through the city’s incredible floating gardens, Les Hortillonages.
Experience a French Christmas
Most of our groups choose a school trip to Amiens during December to visit the famous Christmas market. This is a fantastic option for a French school trip as it offers students many exciting opportunities to practise speaking French with local stallholders.
The city is home to the largest Christmas market in northern France. The market stretches across 2km of the city centre and features 130 chalets, an ice rink, a big wheel and a mountain village complete with toboggan run!
You’ll be able to pick some incredible handmade gifts from Picardie and around the world, and you’ll have lots of fun trying all the delicious food on offer! Your students will have plenty of opportunity to practise their French with the local stallholders, to find out more about their products and to purchase gifts and treats.
And once you’ve had your fill of waffles and chocolate pancakes, make sure you head over to the city’s magnificent cathedral, which hosts a spectacular light show every evening at 7pm in December.
Other cities in France
- School trips to Bordeaux
- School trips to Disneyland Paris
- School trips to Dunkirk
- School trips to Futuroscope
- School trips to Lille
- School trips to Loire Valley
- School trips to Lyon
- School trips to Montpellier
- School trips to Nice
- School trips to Normandy
- School trips to Opal Coast
- School trips to Parc Asterix
- School trips to Paris
- School trips to Rouen
- School trips to South of France
- School trips to Strasbourg
- School trips to The Somme
FAQs
How long should we spend in Amiens on our school trip?
To make the most out of everything that Amiens has to offer, we would recommend spending at least 3 days here on your school trip, especially if you're also intending to visit Arras.
When is the best time to visit Amiens on a school trip?
Amiens is lovely at any time of the year, but most of our groups choose to visit in December when the fantastic Christmas markets are on, as this is a wonderfully festive way to introduce your students to the French language and culture.
What's the best way to get around Amiens?
Being a town, getting around Amiens itself is easy enough on foot. However, if you're combining your visit to Amiens with a visit to Arras, as most of our groups do, then coach is the easiest form of transport. We will, of course, provide you with a comfortable coach that you can use throughout your trip.
Which visits are a must on a school trip to Amiens?
Most groups choose to visit Amiens in December so, of course, we would highly recommend the Christmas markets as must-see on your school trip to Amiens. A guided tour of the old town is also a great activity that will give your students the chance to learn a bit more about the local history and culture. And, as this is northern France, we would highly recommend a visit to the Somme 1916 Museum to learn more about what life was like in the area during WW1.
Are there any free things to do in Amiens?
There certainly are! Of course, the Christmas markets are completely free to walk around, although we can't guarantee that you won't be tempted to spend your money on the delicious treats or handmade gifts on sale here. You may also like to visit Amiens Cathedral. This 13th century Gothic cathedral is spectacular and is actually the largest cathedral in France!
Can I arrange a cross-curricular school trip to Amiens?
Yes, you can arrange a cross-curricular school trip to Amiens as the town offers some exciting options for French and history groups, particularly those studying WW1.
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