School trip
at Fort Fermont
A unique educational visit into the heart of the Maginot Line
Are you looking for an original, enriching school trip that perfectly fits the National Education curriculum?
Le Fort de Fermont welcomes primary schools and offers visits specially designed for Cycle 3 pupils, secondary school students and high school students. Through an immersive approach, young people discover the history of the Second World War, the workings of the Maginot Line and the daily lives of soldiers, while developing numerous skills included in the common core of knowledge, skills and culture.
Located in the heart of Lorraine, Fort de Fermont is a real educational tool, allowing pupils to learn in a different way, directly on an exceptional historical site.
An exceptional historical site
Built in the 1930s, the Fort de Fermont is one of the major works of the Maginot Line. Preserved in remarkable condition, it allows pupils to discover the underground military infrastructures, the soldiers' living quarters, and the impressive defensive equipment used during the Second World War.
During their visit, the pupils will, among other things, explore:
- The underground munitions shop
- The galleries buried nearly 30 metres deep
- The artillery block
- Barracks
- The technical facilities
- The living spaces of the soldiers
This immersion allows for a practical approach to historical concepts that are often difficult to grasp in the classroom alone.
A visit related to school programmes
The proposed activities allow for the development of numerous skills for Cycle 3, middle school or high school:
- To build historical benchmarks
- Finding your way around
- Understanding a historical document
- Develop written and spoken expression
- To cooperate and work in a group
- To use different languages to tell and explain the story
- Develop critical thinking
The visit fits perfectly within the history, geography, moral and civic education as well as written expression activities.
Several tour options
Visit to the fort
The pupils discover how a Maginot Line structure works through an age-appropriate guided tour.
On the agenda:
- Descent into the underground galleries
- Discovery of the ammunition shop
- Artillery block exploration
- Understanding the strategic role of the fort
- Educational activity booklet distributed to pupils
Duration: approximately 2 hours.
Museum visit
The Fort de Fermont Museum allows for a deeper exploration of military life during the Second World War, thanks to a rich collection of objects, documents, and testimonials.
This visit can be supplemented by various educational workshops.
Discovering the Outdoor Environment
Groups can also enjoy an observation trail around the fort to understand the placement of military structures within their natural and strategic environment.
Educational programmes for all school levels
Interactive educational workshops
To extend the visitor experience, several workshops are offered to classes.
Creating a poster about peace
Having discovered military recruitment posters from the era, the students create their own poster on the theme of peace.
This workshop allows for the development of:
- Citizen reflection
- Image analysis
- Artistic expression
- Understanding republican symbols
Fort professions
The pupils discover the many jobs needed for the operation of a military structure.
In small groups, they then produce an article that can be incorporated into a real “Gazette du Fort”.
Soldier's correspondence
Young people step into the shoes of a Maginot Line soldier and write a letter to their family.
An excellent exercise combining history and written expression.
Young reporters
The pupils collected information during the visit so that they could then write an article recounting a soldier's day at Fort Fermont.
Weapons and ammunition storage
A fun workshop to discover military vocabulary and the artillery equipment used within the fort.
A simple organisation for Key Stage 2 teachers
Le Fort de Fermont also hosts:
- One-to-one lessons
- School clusters
- State schools
- Private schools
- Leisure centres
- After-school clubs
Half-day or full-day packages are offered to accommodate the constraints of each establishment.
Educational resources to prepare for the visit
To support teachers before and after their visit, Fort Fermont provides several educational resources:
- Teacher's Handbook
- Educational Programme Cycle 3
- Actionable historical documents for the classroom
- Maps of the Maginot Line
- Official documents of the period
- Soldiers' correspondence
- Fort plans
These resources help to extend the work done during the visit and to make the most of the school trip as part of the learning process.
Book your school trip
Would you like to organise an educational trip to Fort Fermont?
Our team will support you in preparing your project and help you choose the most suitable option for your class.
Contact us now for a quote or to check availability.