Paris - History School Trip

Day 1 - Arrive in Paris and Louvre Museum

Students travel to Paris by air or by Eurostar which departs from London St Pancras. Upon arrival, transfer to your accommodation by coach or by metro to begin your Paris educational tour.

After checking in, you could visit the magnificent art and sculptures housed in the Louvre. During the French Revolution, the National Assembly decreed the former palace must be used as a museum to display the nation’s masterpieces.

The Louvre houses collections including Egyptian Antiquities, Roman Antiquities and Islamic Art making it excellent for students of the ancient world, Classics, and Religious Studies. Above all, the Louvre is famed for its Renaissance artwork. Students can see Leonardo Da Vinci’s enigmatic Mona Lisa first hand alongside Renaissance masterpieces by Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian and Rembrandt. Students of the Renaissance period in France, Italy and across Europe will have much to see.

As evening falls, students can go to the Trocadéro which offers a fantastic view of the Eiffel Tower. From here, a short walk across the bridge takes you to the foot of the Eiffel Tower and another superb photo spot. To finish the evening in style, take a Seine river cruise to drink in the sights and sounds of Paris at night.

Day 2 - French Revolution Guided Tour, Champs Elysees and Arc de Triomphe

Day Two begins with a tailored outing to meet your learning goals. GCSE and A Level History students can tour sites to bring the French Revolution to life including the Bastille, a flashpoint from the early days of the Revolution where rebels successfully stormed the Royal prison. Move on to the radical Cordeliers’ club where revolutionary ideas were debated, the Conciergerie which housed Marie Antoinette, Danton and Marat before their Revolutionary Tribunal trials, and the workshop where Dr Guillotin invented the eponymous killing machine.

In the evening, explore the Champs Elysées before heading up the Arc de Triomphe for views of the sparkling Eiffel Tower at night.

Day 3 - Guided Tour of Versailles and Montmartre

A full day guided tour of The Versailles and Estate of Trianon gives students the chance to visit the main residence of French Kings from Louis XIV to Louis XVI. The Women’s March on Versailles also known as the October Days saw Louis XVI abandon the Palace of Versailles for Paris, faced by women from the marketplaces rioting over high bread prices. Students of WW1 can visit the Hall of Mirrors, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed on 28 June 1919, ending the First World War. The War Room and the Peace Room contain many artistic depictions of France’s central role in European History.

After dinner, take a guided evening walking tour of Montmartre, exploring Place du Tertre and the famous white-domed Basilica of Sacré-Coeur.

Day 4 - Museum Visit - Fly Home

Depending on departure time today, there is plenty of choice for a morning activity. For example you could visit the Carnavalet Museum. The Carnavalet houses the world’s largest collection of items from Revolutionary France. Explore in detail the tumultuous events of 1789-1799, and learn through medals, drawings and furnishings the staggering global impact of the French Revolution. The Carnavalet is dedicated to the history of Paris, from prehistory to present day. Students can track the development of the city and the lives of its inhabitants across the two mansions.

Alternative options include Musée Rodin, the Musée d’Orsay, the Picasso museum, Dalí Paris, City of Science and Industry, Museum of Music, Museum of the Art and History of Judaism or the Museum of the History of Immigration depending on your learning goals.

In the afternoon, transfer to the station or airport to make your way back home.