Recently our Year 12 and Year 13 French students headed across the channel on Eurostar for a packed three-day stay in Lille.

Our trip included a guided tour through the winding streets of Vieux Lille (entirely in French, of course!) and a bus tour to see how the modern neighborhoods contrast with the historic centre. We learnt about the history of the man who shaped modern France at Charles de Gaulle’s family home. We tackled the 400-step climb up the "Beffroi" tower—the legs were definitely feeling it by the top, but the panoramic views of the city were worth it! One afternoon was spent at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, which is actually the second-largest museum in France after the Louvre. To keep the French practice going, everyone made sure to stop by the local bookshops to pick out a French book to bring home.

One of the coolest surprises was our trip to the cinema to see a documentary about a group of French cyclists recreating the 1924 Tour de France—we actually got to meet the director and one of the participants for a Q&A session at the end!

Between the organised visits and the inevitable stop at a famous French patisserie "Meert" for some treats, there was plenty of free time to just hang out and explore. As one student put it, "I really enjoyed the balance of free time and structured activities," while another loved "being able to practice French while also learning about a new place and spending time with friends."