Le Chateau du Broutel

I have just returned from the most incredible residential visit that I have ever been involved in.

This was the first time that our school has ever taken children on a visit abroad and I am so glad we did because the children and staff all had a brilliant time!

The Chateau de Broutel in Rue, was built around 1714 by Jean-Baptiste Loisel, one of the heads of cavalry of Louis XIV. It was restored in 1824 after some damage in the French Revolution. During WW2 it was occupied by the German army. Lionel Leroy, the director of Leroy Merlin (the French equivalent to B&Q) bought the Chateau in the early 1980s.

The Chateau is now owned by Manor Adventure and it offers superb residential visits to KS2, 3 and 4.

We decided to take the children on a visit to France so they could practice their conversational French they have been learning since September 2005. The Chateau was by far the most breath-taking accomodation we could find and we were all keen on booking a visit as soon as possible.

Here is what the children enjoyed on the visit:

Monday: Travelled to Rue, by coach and ferry. In the evening the children took part in some team building games. Each evening they added to their scrapbook of the visit.

Tuesday: We had a guided tour of the village of Rue, which, for a small village, has a lot of history. The children tried a quiz to find out information about the town. It also gave them an opportunity to use their French. In the afternoon we visited a fantastic goat farm where the children had chance to listen to French speaking and also look at how the goats and cows were looked after. They could also try some goat's cheese. We also visited a chocolate factory which was lovely!! They had a talk about how chocolate is made and the chance to try and purchase some items. In the evening they tried a scavenger hunt.

Wednesday: In the morning we set off into Rue to buy stamps and postcards (using French, of course!) before we set off for Amiens. Amiens has the most incredible cathedral. It is huge and the children were completely blown away! In the afternoon we went to an underground city where people hid during WW1 and was used by the Nazis in WW2. There was a great adventure playground which kept staff and pupils amused! In the evening the children took part in a quiz.

Thursday: In the morning we went off to Abbeville market. The children had the chance to buy whatever they wished and there was a really good variety and excellent prices. Each group also had to buy three typically French items - one blue, one white and one red for a display back in school. In the afternoon they prepared their own promotional film for the Chateau, played petanque and completed the muddiest blind trail ever! The children, and a certain member of staff (!) were caked in mud but they had a great time! In the evening they enjoyed a disco.

Friday: Before heading for the ferry we went to Nausicaa which is a French sealife centre. The journey home seemed to take forever!! When they returned to school we had a small surprise for the children - a t-shirt to remind them of their visit!

I'm pleased to report that all the children were safe and thoroughly enjoyed their visit. I would whole-heartedly recommend the Chateau to anyone who wishes to organise a visit abroad!

School is going to seem so mundane tomorrow morning!