The Ambleteuse centre is already very popular with British school groups and the Interaction Festival programme is the culmination of Voyager’s partnership with the people who run the centre. Home to more historic sites and monuments than any other French region, a beautiful coastline and elegant resorts, the Opal Coast offers a plethora of opportunities to experience real French culture.
Ambleteuse is ideally situated for groups who wish to minimise travel time, but still deliver a genuine French experience. 25 minutes from Calais, near Boulogne and the delightful town of Wimireux, Ambleteuse is convenient for a plethora of cultural and historical visits (for more information see below) and only 15 minutes walk from some of the Opal Coast’s wonderful beaches.
Accommodation
Following a 5,000,000€ refurbishment programme, the standard of accommodation at Ambleteuse is nothing short of fabulous. 3-5 bedded en-suite rooms for students and twin rooms for teachers.
Teachers lounge and bar
The centre’s main block is home to a teacher’s only lounge, complete with bar. The main block also houses the centre’s 2 dining rooms and reception.
Function & Meeting Rooms
Ambleteuse also benefits from a completely refurbished function room, ideal for discos, watching films and as a space to gather everyone participating in the festival. The same block also houses 4 meeting rooms, ideal for quiet time as a school or when the festival participants split off into smaller ‘interaction’ groups.
Other Facilities
These include a wonderful heated indoor swimming pool which can be reserved in advance, plus sauna, Jacuzzi and Turkish Bath for teachers use only. The centre also boasts tennis courts and playground.
Acres of Car-Free Grounds
One important reason for choosing Ambleteuse as the venue for the festivals is the spacious, car-free grounds, completely enclosed by a perimeter fence. Accompanying adults can relax in the knowledge students can run around and break-off into smaller groups, in an environment which is safe and controlled.
Cross Curricular Excursions
Nausicaa Sealife Centre
Looking at man’s relationship with the marine environment.
Bagatelle Theme Park
Popular theme park, open Easter to Sept. www.bagatelle.fr
Aqualud, le Touquet
Excellent waterpark on the seafront. www.aqualud.co
Boulogne
Major fishing port, with old town and cathedral.
Boulangerie
See how baguettes and croissant are made.
Handmade Chocolate Manufacturer
Fascinating explanation and demonstration of how chocolate is made.
Handmade Sweet Manufacturer
See how boiled sweets and lollipops are made.
History Excursions
WWI Somme Battlefields
After 18 months of deadlock, the Battle of the Somme was supposed to be the decisive breakthrough for the British and French Allies on the Western Front. Instead, with 20,000 men killed on the first day and one million casualties in total on both sides, the Battle of the Somme became a by-word for indiscriminate slaughter.
Beaumont-Hamel Memorial Park
Preserved Western Front battlefields, on the site where the British Army suffered their worst ever casualties in a single day.
Thiepval
The ‘Memorial to the Missing’ commemorates over 73,000 men who lost their lives during the battle and were never found.
Pozieres
Where tanks were used for the first time, but also the scene of some of the heaviest fighting on the Somme.
Lochnagar Crater
The largest crater on the Western Front, created by an explosion which could be felt in London.
Delville Wood
Memorial to South African troops. Café and toilets.
Somme 1916 Museum, Albert
Displays life in the trenches in 1916.
Historial de la Grande Guerre, Peronne
An extensive collection depicting life during the war, including films and walk through exhibits. www.historial.org
Arras
Famed for the tunnels used during the Great War.
Vimy Ridge
Original trenches have been reconstructed to show how close the two lines were, plus the tunnels where the soldiers lived.
La Coupole
Secret launch site of the V1 and V2 rockets, plus a museum dealing with the German occupation of France. www.lacoupole.com
Azincourt Medieval Centre
Interactive exhibition, including a multimedia tour of the French and English camps and the Battlefield itself. www.azincourt-medieval.com
