Ibis Centre Pont de l&#x27;Europe

destinationsSep 22, 2025

Small Towns, Big Lessons: Why Teachers Should Explore Hidden Gems on Student Tours

Smaller European towns like Toledo, Siena, and Bruges offer student travelers richer cultural connections and hands-on learning than crowded capital cities alone can provide

destinationsAug 9, 2023

A Day in Avignon: Exploring the Heart of Provence with Passports

Avignon packs medieval history, Provençal cuisine, and hidden gems into a single unforgettable day. This guide walks you through the best sites, markets, and restaurants

travel inspirationApr 19, 2023

June 2- June 6 Lesson Plan Roundup

Summer Project Continued: Like many of our classroom teachers, the passports Curriculum Department has taken on a summer project. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be reviewing each of our current lesson plans, revising the

travel inspirationMar 6, 2023

How to Choose the Right Destination for Your Student Tour

Whether your educational goals are historical, linguistic, cultural, charitable or a combination, Passports has the right tour for you and your students.

travel inspirationFeb 28, 2023

Wordless Wednesday: 11 Student Group Photos That Will Make You Smile

We love it when our tour directors take group photos of teachers and their students at famous European locations!

for teachersDec 20, 2021

Tour Director Lecture Series April 27 - May 1

We have heard from so many of our teachers… this online learning business is tough! It’s hard to be out of the classroom, to come up with new ideas in this unusual platform and to just be away from everyone. We can’t fix

Classroom material

Free lesson plans tied to Avignon

Medieval France (987-1498): Avignon Papacy (1309-1378): Babylon Captivity of the Church

Through the use of various primary and secondary sources, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain how and why the Catholic Church transferred the papacy to Avignon, what role the French crown played in the A…

From our blog

Blog posts about France

destinationsSep 22, 2025

Small Towns, Big Lessons: Why Teachers Should Explore Hidden Gems on Student Tours

Smaller European towns like Toledo, Siena, and Bruges offer student travelers richer cultural connections and hands-on learning than crowded capital cities alone can provide

culture and foodJun 9, 2025

Culinary Classrooms Abroad: Teaching Culture Through Cooking

Cooking classes abroad in Italy, Spain, and France give student travelers a hands-on way to learn culture, history, language, and collaboration — one recipe at a time

destinationsJun 4, 2025

Hidden Educational Gems in Europe’s Most Visited Cities

Hidden educational gems in Paris, Rome, London, and Barcelona give student travelers deeper, crowd-free experiences tied to history, science, art, and culture

educational impactMay 26, 2025

Unlocking the History Behind European World Heritage Sites: A Teacher’s Guide

Six European UNESCO World Heritage Sites offer rich classroom tie-ins across history, architecture, and culture. This guide gives teachers activity ideas for each landmark

travel inspirationDec 5, 2024

Fundraising Tips and Ideas

Unsure where to begin when it comes to fundraising?! Check out these tips and tricks!

destinationsJul 23, 2024

Europe’s Most Beautiful Libraries and Bookstores

Europe's most stunning libraries and bookstores span Dublin's Long Room to Paris's Shakespeare and Company — each a landmark of architecture, history, and literary culture

From the Tour Directors

Tour Director lectures on France

Frances DraxlFranceVirtual Tour

A Virtual Tour of the Palace of Versailles

A virtual guided tour inside the palace!

Frances DraxlFranceVirtual Tour

Chambord: A Virtual Tour

Frances DraxlFrance

French Cooking Lesson - Caneles

Step inside the kitchen with Frances for an intimate cooking lesson in the French style.

Frances DraxlFranceOther

French Cooking Lesson - Les Oeufs au Lait

Step inside the kitchen of Frances Draxl for an intimate cooking lesson in the French style.

Frances DraxlFrance

French Cooking Lesson - Macarons

Step inside the kitchen with Frances for an intimate cooking lesson in the French style. Learn how the French do it!

Sara Cereda-KortFranceSpainGermanyItalyUKOther

How to travel like a PRO!

Learn from professional Tour Director, Sara Cereda-Kort, useful insider tips to make your life as a traveler in Europe easier and more comfortable. Best preparation for a group tour or for individual travelers.

Classroom material

Free lesson plans on France

Age of Enlightenment: France: Rousseau

Through an in-depth analysis of primary and secondary sources, specifically by reading and analyzing excerpts from two of Jean Jacques Rousseau's major works, The Social Contract (1763) and Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality am…

Age of Enlightenment: France: Voltaire (Candide)

Students in this lesson will analyze and understand the basic story behind Voltaire's satire by reading Candide (1759). In doing such analysis, students will also gain an appreciation and understanding of how Voltaire challenged the French …

ItalyHistoryGrade 11-12

Ancient Rome: Identity: Rape of the Sabine Women

Through the investigation of primary and secondary sources, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain the details behind the Rape of the Sabine Women and how the myth became part of the Roman identity and sens…

TurkeyhistoryGrade 11-12

Byzantine Istanbul (330-1453): Great Schism of 1054: Orthodox Christianity

Through the investigation of selected sources, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain in detail the Great Schism of 1054 that split the Christian Church into Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism, what di…

RussiaHistoryGrade 11-12

Crimean War 1853-1856

Through the use of various primary and secondary sources, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain the basics behind the Crimean War of 1853-56, how Russian expansionism helped precipitate the war, why the Fr…

Early Modern France (1498-1789): The Sun King: Louis XIV

Through an examination of both primary and secondary sources on the subject, including various types of visual media in addition to electronic and written sources, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain Fre…