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U4 Take on Paris: Crêpes, Culture and Countless Steps |
At the end of October, our U4 students swapped their classrooms for the boulevards of Paris and enjoyed a four-day adventure packed with French art, history, trying new cuisines and language practice.
Based at a youth hostel in Le Marais, a 15-minute walk from Notre-Dame Cathedral, we were perfectly placed to make the most of the city.
A visit to the Musée d’Orsay was a real highlight. Students admired Impressionist masterpieces, marvelled at the grand railway clocks, and enjoyed treats from the museum’s café, a pâtisserie so good it was almost a work of art itself. Student Emily H said, “Going to the Musée d'Orsay was brilliant, especially going around all the impressionists.”
The group then wandered through the Jardin des Tuileries in the sunshine before arriving at the Pyramide du Louvre and climbing on the Colonnes de Buren.
A particularly memorable stop was the Éternelle Notre-Dame virtual reality experience, where students were transported through centuries of cathedral history. The 45 minutes of fascinating time-travel, without ever leaving their headsets, gave everyone a new appreciation for the city’s cultural heritage.
No trip would be complete without the 674-step challenge to the second floor of La Tour Eiffel. What sounded daunting turned out to be a breeze. The reward from the top, later matched only by the panorama from Montmartre (reached, naturally, by more steps), made everyone forget their aching legs.
The students handled their free time brilliantly at the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, ordering lunches en français with confidence. Crêpes, gaufres, pains au chocolat and baguette sandwiches were all devoured with enthusiasm and dedicated pronunciation. Anna R said "The Paris trip was very fun and enjoyable. It provided me with an opportunity to use the French that I had learnt in class."
On our last night in Paris, we relaxed on a scenic boat trip down the River Seine, taking in many of the city’s famous landmarks. The highlight was seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle as we passed by.
Before heading home, we made a final stop at Les Galeries Lafayette, where students enjoyed a short shopping trip and admired the incredible views from the rooftop terrace. It was the perfect ending to an unforgettable visit.
Our students added:
- "During the French trip, I really enjoyed seeing the Eiffel tower and going down the Champs-Élysées. I liked with the freedom you gave us to explore the shops." - Charlotte K.
- "Paris is a Beautiful city." - Indigo G.
- "The Eiffel Tower was definitely the highlight of my trip, and the Notre-dame VR experience was so fun. Seeing Notre-Dame on the first day was amazing.” - Diya R.
At St Swithun’s we pride ourselves on the vast array of opportunities we offer beyond the curriculum. International trips such as this are rich in cultural immersion, personal development and not least, they offer great fun and adventure.
