Opal Coast School Centre | Hôtel Moulin aux Draps
Just a short hop from Calais, our Hôtel Moulin residential centre is set in extensive rural grounds, with onsite activities and easy access to the cultural and historical sites of Hauts-de-France.
Hôtel du Moulin aux Draps, Rue de Cremarest, 62240 Desvres, France
The Voyager-owned Hôtel Moulin aux Draps is set in 18 acres of rural northern France, under an hour's drive from Calais. Ideal for groups looking for a short stay school trip, our Opal Coast school centre boasts comfortable en-suite bedrooms and facilities for a range of onsite activities delivered in French by our experienced animateurs.
With an abundance of historic towns, vast sandy beaches, local cultural and historic attractions nearby, our Hôtel Moulin aux Draps residential centre is perfect for:
- children’s first school trip to France
- groups who want a shorter trip
- practising French in the local community
- WW1 history buffs
- exciting alternative for year 6 residential
Facilities and rooms at Hôtel Moulin aux Draps
As a 3-star hotel, the Moulin has great facilities including traditional restaurant, large outdoor sun terrace, separate breakfast room, teachers’ bar and lounge, and dedicated games rooms for daytime activities and evening entertainment. The newly expanded centre offers three accommodation wings, with comfortable en-suite student rooms.
Dining room
Student enjoy breakfast and dinner, as well as lunch if they are onsite, in our spacious dining room. Meals are homecooked by our kitchen team and cater for all dietary requirements.
Student bedrooms
Dorms sleep up to 8 in bunks and each have well-equipped en-suite bathroom facilities. All student bedrooms are single gender.
Accommodation buildings
The main hôtel buildings are grouped together around the courtyard with two new wings just along the drive (from 2025). We always aim to group and your students together.
Teacher Rooms
For accompanying adults, we provide comfortable and private twin or double rooms (we cannot guarantee either when booking).
Accessible Rooms
There are two rooms on the ground floor suitable for people with limited mobility or a disability that include large en-suite bathrooms with wheelchair-accessible showers.
Our Opal Coast Centre Team
Tanguy and his team have considerable experience looking after British school trips and there is always a member of staff on night duty, so schools have the benefit of 24-hour care and supervision.
Hôtel Moulin has its own dedicated French-native animateurs whose job is to guide your school group throughout the trip as well as providing a full evening programme to create an immersive French experience. It's these animateurs that teachers consistently feedback add the most value to their trip.
We were really impressed with the centre, and as we come from the north of England, it was a real bonus to only have one hour from Calais to the centre.Kate Whyte, Head of French, Bradford Grammar School
Activities and excursions around the Opal Coast
Ideally located in Hauts-de-France, the Moulin is a perfect point from which to explore the region's history and culture, as well as an exciting range of onsite activities.
Aeroball
Aeroball is a fun, totally unique sport! The trampoline-basketball-volleyball game is suitable for all ages and is played by two teams of 2. Simple instructions are given in French and the students will have the chance to learn/practise the vocabulary for the body parts. It’s also a great opportunity to practise the numbers (scoring and counting down the end of the match). Aeroball is quickly becoming a favourite activity for students and teachers alike!
Bread making
Suitable for all ages bread making is not just a case of making bread, it’s also a golden opportunity to practise your singing talents, as we sing French songs. Students will be guided from the very beginning with simple French instructions. From the measuring of the flour to the kneading of the bread, this activity will keep their enthusiasm going throughout. They will even get to taste the fruits of their hard work as their bread will be baked in time for the evening meal.
Orienteering
The students will be taught map reading in French using orienteering games and courses in the centre grounds. As well as using French language for features, directions and map symbols the team orienteering challenges will involve other French language quizzes along with finding the control markers.
Archery
Students of all ages and abilities will enjoy learning the basics of archery in this fun activity led in French by your animateurs. Understand the safety aspects and tips on aiming in a safe environment.
Mini farm
Get up close and personal with our onsite collection of farm animals. Find out what it takes to look after them and keep them happy as well as feeding and stroking if you wish. All led in French by your animateur.
Circus skills
Enables pupils to discover the art of circus on an artistic as well as technical level. Students are introduced to juggling, diabolo and other circus equipment in a fun and educational manner. The French spoken during this activity is very varied and is based on using the names of the equipment (stick, balls, diabolo...), action verbs (to walk, to move...), directions (left, right, up, down...), colours (orange, red, green...), numbers (one, two, three...).
French Lessons
Students will practise their French speaking skills with games that focus on learning new vocabulary! They will compete with their friends to see who remembers the most, who can match pictures and words the fastest…
© Monica Arellano-Ongpin
Bakery workshop
At a local boulangerie, a baker will perform a baking demonstration for your group in French. Students will walk away with a croissant and a pain au chocolat each!
Nausicaá National Sea Centre
The largest marine life centre in Europe is home to 1,600 species and promotes sustainability and marine management. This is a fun and educational cross-curricular visit for groups.
© Alec Brown
Le Touquet
The seaside town of Le Touquet has miles of white sandy beaches for school groups to enjoy some down time on. In the centre of the town, you will find quaint cafés and confectionery shops.
Goat's cheese farm
Visit a local goat's cheese farm to meet the goats, find out how cheese is made and try some for yourself!
Museum of Ceramics tour & workshop
Desvres has a thriving ceramics industry thanks to the area's raw materials. Enjoy a guided tour & partake in a workshop where students will learn about the production and craft their own souvenir.
Our school trips at Hôtel Moulin aux Draps residential centre
Hôtel Moulin is home to our Opal Coast French language immersion programme as well as cross-curricular trips around the area. What makes this Voyager-owned school centre so popular is the opportunity to pack a lot into a school trip without heading too far.
French Language Residential at Le Moulin aux Draps, Opal Coast
On-site activities & cultural visits, led in French by our native speaking animateurs, a short hop from the UK at our 3* hotel in Hauts-de-France
- Language immersion with our team of animateurs
- Voyager-owned residential centre
Europe France
Cross-curricular school trip to France's Opal Coast, staying at Le Moulin aux Draps
Explore local French culture, attractions & historic sites from our Moulin aux Draps centre, just 30 mins from Boulogne-sur-Mer
- Language, history & cultural itineraries
- Voyager-owned centre
Europe France
WWI battlefields experience to Belgium & French Western Front
Immersive tour of historic battlefieds of Belgium & Northern France staying at Voyager's Moulin centre. Instructor-led activities & workbook included.
- Voyager-owned accommodation
- WW1 workbook & onsite activities included
France
WWI history trip to the Somme Battlefields, Northern France
Bespoke WW1 history tours of the battlefields of the Somme, staying at our 3* Moulin aux Draps residential centre in Northern France
- Voyager-owned centre
Europe France
Christmas & Wintersports at Hôtel du Moulin, Opal Coast
A magical French Christmas market trip with a ski-taster session at our Opal Coast school centre, a short hop from Calais.
- Available throughout December
- Onsite seasonal activities with our instructors
Europe France
Winter treats seasonal special at le Moulin aux Draps
A dazzling festival jam-packed with French delights at our Opal Coast residential centre.
- Available Jan-Feb
- Full schedule of activities
Europe France
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