History, culture, personal enrichment – just some of the things that young people deserve to experience as they grow up, but fitting all of this in can sometimes be difficult, especially for schools. That is why we have designed a trip that encapsulates all of this but doesn’t break the bank for your students.
Just under an hour’s drive from Calais finds us in Belgium, a beautiful country popular with visitors from the UK and none more so than the city of Bruges. Linked to the sea by a series of canals and often referred to as “The Venice of the North” its history dates back to the 9th century and this medieval city is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the perfect place to explore some of the medieval history of Europe, the impact of the Reformation on the development of some of the artistic world’s key movements. It is also home to one of the most atmospheric Christmas Markets that takes place each year. Soak up the festive atmosphere and visit the many stalls offering the chance to shop for unique Christmas gifts and enjoy sampling the amazing array of delicious local foods on offer.
This trip can be tied into a visit to the historic battlefields of the First World War. A visit to Flanders Fields is an important way of understanding the horrors of the Great War. Four major battles were fought here and more than 250,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers gave their lives. The pretty market town of Ypres lies at the heart of ‘The Salient’ and during the war the town was under almost constant bombardment, reducing it to ruins. The city is now totally restored and at the heart of the city lies The Menin Gate, which marked the route that many soldiers took on their journey to the front line.
Join us on this tour for a tale of two cities, both famous but for very different reasons.
Key Subject Knowledge
- Medieval history
- Modern European cultural developments
- Medicine and medical evacuation on the Western front
- Women and the First World War
- Diversity and the range of troops that served during the First World War
- Technology and how it changed over the war
- Daily life in the trenches
- The relationship between the Home Front and the Western Front
- Propaganda and communication
- Commemoration and legacy
Also available supporting elements of wider Humanities (geography, English, social sciences and citizenship)
- The battlefield and the physical landscape
- Art history
- War poetry and war artists
- Decision making in the British Armed forces and the relationship between politicians and generals
- The different faiths that were in the British Forces
