The pretty market town of Laval is situated only 20km from our Château.
The market takes place on Tuesday and Saturday mornings. Laval is unspoilt by tourism and the locals welcome our guests and enjoy speaking with the children. A visit to the market provides a typically French atmosphere and the streets are lined with flowers, cheese, fruit and vegetables and sometimes even animals! Ideal to practise even basic French and use your Euros.
After visiting the market, soaking up the French atmosphere and trying out your French on the locals, we whisk you away to experience the contrasting shopping experience of a typical French hypermarket. Another chance for pupils to practise their French and use any Euros they have left.
A market visit has become a central part of the Château experience. Most of our visiting school parties choose this excursion. A big favourite with children of all ages, we recommend you don’t miss the opportunity to visit the market.
St Hilaire market on Wednesdays is a slightly longer journey than Laval (45 minutes) but as with Laval it is unspoilt by tourism and the locals welcome our guests. A visit to the market provides a typically French atmosphere with a variety of stalls selling locally produced food and goods. A great opportunity to sample some of the local delights (farm produced cheese, chocolate and wax products) and practise some French.
After visiting the market, soaking up the French atmosphere and trying out your French on the locals, we whisk you away to experience the contrasting shopping experience of a typical French hypermarket. Another chance for pupils to practise their French and use any Euros they have left.
The market visit has become a central part of the Château experience. Most of our visiting school parties choose a market visit. Being a favourite with children of all ages, we recommend you don’t miss the opportunity to visit the market.
Another fascinating insight into French gastronomic delights! This excursion includes an hour and a half guided tour of the museum, in French, all translated by your Château Beaumont Group Leader. The tour covers the techniques and machinery used for cultivating and producing cider, demonstrating both old and modern equipment, followed by the bottling of the cider and the chance to sample some Calvados, using their sense of smell only! There is also a chance to try a shot of apple juice! (but they think it’s cider).
It is an excellent excursion for older groups especially if you are looking for intensive French. Not recommended for young groups, as the level of French after a 40 minute journey from the Château can be a little too much for younger students.
France is famous for its cuisine and this excursion offers students a chance to add one of the country’s most famous foods to their French School Trip experience.
Groups tour the farm, see the goats and discover, in French, how cheese is made from the curdling of the rennet to the maturing/cold room. There is an opportunity to sample the different types of cheese and meet the goats. An excellent opportunity to practise French comprehension!
As the tour is conducted entirely in French, this excursion is highly recommended for the Reportage groups.
South of the Château, the Refuge De L’Arche has a wide variety of animals rescued by Greenpeace and similar agencies. The main attraction is “Baboon Island”, though other animals include: peacocks, crocodiles, chipmunks, wolves, tigers and bears.
Children are set the challenge of completing a “letter quest”. Clues lead them to each enclosure where they will have to translate the plaques and answer questions on the different species of animals. This is a fun learning activity particularly for younger groups.
Visit their website for more information Animal Refuge
On the way back from the Refuge we can stop at a small chocolate factory. There is the chance to sample a few chocolates, see the amazing chocolate statues and chocolate fountain. This short stop is always popular with both pupils and teachers.
The Refuge is an ideal half-day excursion. This trip can easily be combined with a morning visit to Laval Market.
