Loire Valley

Visiting the Loire Valley palaces is like visiting 16th century Renaissance France when fortified medieval fortresses were transformed into delicate castles inspired by Italian architecture. Such is the case of le Château d’Amboise where Leonardo da Vinci was buried.

The Château de Chenonceau is an exceptional site not only because of its original design, the richness of its collections, its furniture and its decorations, but also because of its destiny, since it was loved, administrated and protected by women.

Depending on the program, the students may also enjoy a traditional boat ride on the Loire river or he splendor of Chambord’s castle and its exceptional architectural creation that draws its inspiration from the French tradition as much as from the new ideas of the Italian Renaissance.

Normandie

Students will travel to Mount Saint Michel, one the most visited sites in France, and walk in the quicksand of the bay. The group will then explore Saint Malo city, a haunt of pirates for hundreds of years, the “Cité Corsaire” that has always done things its own way. The old town is still surrounded by granite walls, while the tidal islands next to the city continue to be fortified by 17th century bastions.

Alsace / Allemagne

The Alsace region is located in the Rhine plaine in the north eastern part of France. It is bordered by Germany and Switzerland. Over the centuries Alsace has been back and of forth under the control of France and Germany; a rich bicultural heritage is therefore strongly anchored in this welcoming region. The architecture of the villages and the cities, the gardening works, the religious plurality and the daily use of language dialect make you feel like being in a different country when you are definitely in France!

Gastronomy is not a legend in this area! You will be puzzled by the variety of local culinary traditions : baeckeoffe, sauerkraut, flammekueche, kugelhopf, bretzel, bredele, just to mention a few of them. They are a real pleasure for the palate!

A stop on the other side of the Rhine will be a nice opportunity to discover a part of the Schwarzwald region in Germany giving this three days excursion an international dimension.

Lyon

France’s second largest city, Lyon is located on the Rhone and Soâne Rivers with many sites to see, including the Gallo-Roman Museum, two excavated Roman theaters, and the 19th century Basilique Notre-Dame de Fouvière. In Lyon, visitors can take a unique journey through time and across cultures through traipsing down its narrow streets, crossing its “traboules“ (narrow secret passages). Lyon's Parc de la Tête d’Or showcases botanical gardens, a small zoo, lakes for sailing, running trails, and many areas for relaxing.

Normandy - Honfleur & Etretat

Honfleur is so utterly enchanting, it's hard to remember that it was built essentially for commerce. Its harbor sits in a great location, tucked away on the southern side of the Seine’s estuary. During the Hundred Years War, the French king had this strategic spot fortified, but that didn’t stop the English from taking over for several decades.

The little town of Etretat is located in the Pays de Caux, on a section of the coast of Normandy called “La Côte d’Albâtre”, and is renowned for its impressive white cliffs, featuring arches, a large rock needle-like structure and tunnels (which Impressionists painted so memorably).

Toulouse

Welcome to Toulouse, capital of Occitania! Toulouse is a city of colors, with its pink brick facades, its emblematic flower, the violet, the blue of the pastel... Located in the heart of the South-West, between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, the "Pink City" joyfully combines heritage and the art of living. Yesterday, capital of the Visigoths, today aeronautical and space capital, Toulouse invites you to discover its two thousand years of history and has many surprises in store for you!

Alsace / Allemagne

The Alsace region is located in the Rhine plaine in the north eastern part of France. It is bordered by Germany and Switzerland. Over the centuries Alsace has been back and of forth under the control of France and Germany; a rich bicultural heritage is therefore strongly anchored in this welcoming region. The architecture of the villages and the cities, the gardening works, the religious plurality and the daily use of language dialect make you feel like being in a different country when you are definitely in France!

Gastronomy is not a legend in this area! You will be puzzled by the variety of local culinary traditions : baeckeoffe, sauerkraut, flammekueche, kugelhopf, bretzel, bredele, just to mention a few of them. They are a real pleasure for the palate!

A stop on the other side of the Rhine will be a nice opportunity to discover a part of the Schwarzwald region in Germany giving this three days excursion an international dimension.

Loire Valley

Visiting the Loire Valley palaces is like visiting 16th century Renaissance France when fortified medieval fortresses were transformed into delicate castles inspired by Italian architecture. Such is the case of le Château d’Amboise where Leonardo da Vinci was buried.

The Château de Chenonceau is an exceptional site not only because of its original design, the richness of its collections, its furniture and its decorations, but also because of its destiny, since it was loved, administrated and protected by women.

Depending on the program, the students may also enjoy a traditional boat ride on the Loire river or he splendor of Chambord’s castle and its exceptional architectural creation that draws its inspiration from the French tradition as much as from the new ideas of the Italian Renaissance.

Normandie

Students will travel to Mount Saint Michel, one the most visited sites in France, and walk in the quicksand of the bay. The group will then explore Saint Malo city, a haunt of pirates for hundreds of years, the “Cité Corsaire” that has always done things its own way. The old town is still surrounded by granite walls, while the tidal islands next to the city continue to be fortified by 17th century bastions.

Lyon

France’s second largest city, Lyon is located on the Rhone and Soâne Rivers with many sites to see, including the Gallo-Roman Museum, two excavated Roman theaters, and the 19th century Basilique Notre-Dame de Fouvière. In Lyon, visitors can take a unique journey through time and across cultures through traipsing down its narrow streets, crossing its “traboules“ (narrow secret passages). Lyon's Parc de la Tête d’Or showcases botanical gardens, a small zoo, lakes for sailing, running trails, and many areas for relaxing.

Normandy - Honfleur & Etretat

Honfleur is so utterly enchanting, it's hard to remember that it was built essentially for commerce. Its harbor sits in a great location, tucked away on the southern side of the Seine’s estuary. During the Hundred Years War, the French king had this strategic spot fortified, but that didn’t stop the English from taking over for several decades.

The little town of Etretat is located in the Pays de Caux, on a section of the coast of Normandy called “La Côte d’Albâtre”, and is renowned for its impressive white cliffs, featuring arches, a large rock needle-like structure and tunnels (which Impressionists painted so memorably).

Toulouse

Welcome to Toulouse, capital of Occitania! Toulouse is a city of colors, with its pink brick facades, its emblematic flower, the violet, the blue of the pastel... Located in the heart of the South-West, between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, the "Pink City" joyfully combines heritage and the art of living. Yesterday, capital of the Visigoths, today aeronautical and space capital, Toulouse invites you to discover its two thousand years of history and has many surprises in store for you!