La Grand’Ferme offers full language immersion alongside local cultural experiences. Based at our well-equipped accommodation for schools, students are guided by French-native animateurs from breakfast to bedtime through a balanced programme of language activities and excursions, including an unforgettable visit to Mont-Saint-Michel.
With Mont-Saint-Michel on the horizon, La Grand’Ferme is perfectly placed to deliver an immersive French language experience rooted in local French culture and history.
Your group will be fully escorted throughout the stay by our experienced animateurs, who lead all activities, meals, excursions and evening entertainment in French, encouraging students to use their language skills at every opportunity. From market missions and visits to local producers to hands-on on-site activities such as archery, bread-making and circus skills, learners use French naturally and purposefully throughout their stay – building both understanding and confidence.
The highlight for many groups is the full-day visit to Mont-Saint-Michel, exploring the UNESCO World Heritage site before taking part in a guided walk across the bay, learning about tides and history – and yes, experiencing the famous ‘quicksand’ in complete safety. Alongside this iconic visit, groups can also explore Normandy’s history through trips to Bayeux or the D-Day landing beaches.
By the end of a typical 5-day stay, students will have had far more exposure to spoken French than they would during a term of lessons back at school – often without even realising it. They return home more confident, more motivated and far more willing to use the language in the classroom. Read more about the educational benefits of Voyager's immersive French programmes.
You might meet a French school group staying at La Grand’Ferme to learn English. If so, we can organise a shared activity for your learners to experience a genuine cultural exchange with their French peers. Just let us know when you book if you'd be interested in an exchange.
Our dedicated team in Normandy will tailor your itinerary to your unique requirements, see the Seasonal Highlights tab for local events and festivals.
Programmes can be adapted to suit curriculum focus, travel arrangements and group needs.
|
La Grand'Ferme The centre itself plays a huge role in the success of the programme. La Grand’Ferme is a safe, rural site designed specifically for school groups, with two separate accommodation blocks to support supervision and safeguarding, extensive outdoor spaces, sports courts, an outdoor pool (seasonal) and large indoor activity area. Students enjoy a fun, varied programme, while teachers benefit from a dedicated lounge, supervised activities and the reassurance of a 24/7 on-site duty manager. |
Select the appropriate excursion to build a bespoke trip tailored to your students and learning objectives.
© EmilyStAubert
If you'd like to factor in some time for your group on the beach, your animateur will be happy to organise a picnic or beach games on one of Normandy's many sandy beaches. Your animateur can also lead a coastal walk where students learn about the local wildlife.
A chance for students to be immersed in local culture and produce and to pick up some souvenirs, a visit to the market is a great opportunity for learners to interact in French with the welcoming stall owners.
Meet the goats and learn how goat cheese is made with the chance to some too! Some lucky students might even be invited to have a go at milking.
This island and its surrounding bay are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Scale the cobblestoned streets to reach the churches and the famous gothic-style abbey. Groups with an Animateur will experience a guided barefoot walk across the bay, which is a highlight for students.
Sand yachting offers a gentle and accessible approach to all, accompanied by state-qualified instructors, set off to discover the natural gems of the Baie de Somme.
© Anibas
Explore the quaint traditional town in Normandy also known as City of Manuscripts, which faces the bay of Mont Saint Michel, visit the botanical garden and interact with the locals
There are many cemeteries in France which serve as poignant memorials to the fallen of WWII. Visits to these sites complement History tours and allow students to gain a greater understanding of the loss of life and the human effects of the war.
Experience the 360° cinema in Arromanches displaying brilliantly captured and informative footage from the war across multiple screens.
Saint-Malo is a historic walled city with a surrounding beach. Central to the cobblestoned old town is the Roman Catholic Saint-Malo Cathedral. Popular visits also include the town museum and the Great Aquarium, home to 11,000 marine animals.
Just 15 minutes from Château de la Baudonnière, groups can visit the town's Bell Foundry, Copper Workshop and Pewter Museum. It is rich in history and has a bustling morning market every Tuesday.
Visiting Dinan is like taking your students back in time. This medieval walled town is full of charm thanks to its 13th-century castle, river, narrow streets and magnificently preserved timber clad buildings.
The seaside resort of Granville is a historic fishing port with views towards Jersey and Guernsey. Students of fashion and design will be particularly interested in visiting Musée Christian Dior to tour the exhibition housed in the fashion designer's childhood home.
With the mission of promoting peace, this emphasizes the importance of learning from the atrocities of the Second World War and, in particular, the D-Day landings to prevent future conflicts. Expect an immersive experience featuring artefacts, films and interactive displays investigating the causes and consequences of WWII.
Arromanches is at the heart of the D-Day Landings. There are museums with vivid and emotive displays, including the famous 360° cinema with unreleased footage from war correspondents, filmed on D-Day. There is also the Musée du Débarquement in Arromanches Les Bains, built on the site of the Mulberry Harbour, with working models and film to explain this incredible technical feat.
Famous as the home of the 70 metre-long Bayeux Tapestry, the medieval town is also home to the largest British military cemetery in France, making it a key destination for groups studying WWII history. Also, don't miss the Cathedral, located in the centre of town. Note the Bayeux Tapestry is closed until Summer 2027.
We recommend you allow at least one full day onsite experiencing French language activities with your animateur. Click on the activities below to see what is available for your group at La Grand'Ferme.
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.
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...).
Take advantage of the centre's heated outdoor swimming pool with leisurely swimming or organised pool games. Teachers are responsible for supervising children in the pool as we cannot provide a lifeguard.
Your students will be split into teams to play volleyball on the centre's own court. The game is a great way to practise numbers, instructions and directions in the target language.
Good old fun (and SUPER competitive!), the French game of pétanque takes place on our traditional boule pitch where players are challenged to throw the boule as close to the jack as possible to win.
Students get the chance to be a Robin Hood. After the obligatory safety talk and explanation of the equipment, the students shoot the arrows onto targets, an excellent opportunity to practise numbers and directions in the target language.
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!
Our French language immersion programme includes:
Extras to budget for:
These ready-made trip resources are designed to reduce your admin and help speed up the process of planning, promoting and getting approval for your French trip:
No Surprises Quote Commitment
✅ Transparent quotes
✅ No surprises
✅ Reservation assurance
Find out more
Book an inspection visit
Join us on a subsidised visit to see the La Grand' Ferme programme in action.
Enquire here
The staff were amazing and nothing was too much trouble for them. The pupils were completely immersed in the French language throughout our stay and the huge site enabled them to run off any excess energy.Sara Horan, MFL Teacher at Ysgol Y Strade
We have travelled with Voyager many times and keep coming back every year as the customer care is second to none and, unlike other companies we have travelled with, the pupils really get to experience France and their language skills improve enormously thanks to the immersive nature of the course.
The children had a wonderful time and learnt so much about the French way of life. Their French improved noticeably across the week. ... We would particularly like to thank Manouf our animateur who had an excellent rapport with the children and ensured all trips ran smoothly.Louise Morgan, Assistant at St Matthew's CofE Primary School Merton
French language school trip to Château de la Baudonnière, Lower Normandy
On this residential students enjoy a programme of on-site activities led entirely in French with native speaking animateurs at our Normandy château
Normandy Experience - escorted tour in French
Uncover the cultural & historical delights Normandy has to offer on this escorted tour led by our own French-native animateur
Paris Parle - escorted French language school trip
Your group will be in expert hands on this immersive, escorted tour of Paris—led entirely in French by our native speaking animateur. C'est parti !
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
