White cliffs, golden sand dunes, green gardens and sweet-smelling forests. Snail farms and soft cheeses, smoked garlic and chocolates, Chantilly cream and pancakes Picarde. With a coastline that inspired Charles Dickens and Victor Hugo, and saw over a million wartime casualties, the Opal Coast has more historic sites and monuments than any other area in France.

Discover 120 kilometres of sweeping beaches, which tell the tales of some of the biggest battles in history. Watch sand-yachts at Le Touquet, study Flemish architecture in Arras or gothic cathedrals in Amiens. Wander the food markets of Boulogne or the Christmas markets in Lille. Enjoy aqua-parks, steam-trains and mini zoos. Meet the sharks and sea-lions that inhabit the living reef at Nausicaa. Squint back across to England on a clear day and imagine British troops arriving for the Battle of The Somme.

Less than an hour from the UK and crammed with culture and history, the Opal Coast is one of the easiest and most rewarding French destinations for school groups. With good roads and excellent accommodation throughout the area, groups can explore the coastline and interior at will. This less touristy area will give an experience of real France, offering cultural immersion, moving history and exciting leisure activities.