School outing in Charente-Maritime

Are you planning your next school outing? Are you looking for ideas to end the school year on a high note or to create a sense of unity at the start of the year? Look no further, you’ve found it! With its large green spaces, away from the noise and traffic, Fontdouce is the perfect place to relax in complete safety! A breath of fresh air and a pleasant moment in a rejuvenating environment! Don’t hesitate to contact us for any information you may need, and book well in advance for your outing. School groups are welcome every day between 15 March and 30 November, with no real size limit given the variety of activities on offer.

Activities for all ages

Our various activities are suitable for all classes and ages from 3 upwards. 

Tree climbing

A sensational, rejuvenating school outing! With its 3 courses accessible to little ones from 3 years old and its small zip line, as well as its 10 courses reserved for older children (measuring over 1.10m) and its 2 giant zip lines (200m), the Fontdouce treetop adventure course offers numerous possibilities for all ages and sizes! And this in complete safety since all the routes are in a continuous life line. Offer your students a thrilling and entertaining experience in the heart of nature between Saintes and Cognac. With tree climbing, they will be able to get a breath of fresh air, strengthen their motor skills and their self-confidence, learn to overcome their fears, encourage mutual aid and sharing and above all leave with lots of good memories! Students will have the opportunity to take on a physical and mental challenge in a natural and completely safe environment! The duration of the activity is not limited, but allow a minimum of 2 hours. Find out more about our Tree climbing activity

Trail games

A fun school outing! Taking place on the grounds of Fontdouce Abbey, treasure hunts and a giant cluedo for older children are a fun way to discover this 12th and 13th century heritage site during your school outing. Depending on the age of your pupils, there are a number of different options, each with its own level of difficulty. Whether in teams or individually, these activities offer students the pleasure of getting lost in the labyrinthine circulation spaces of Fontdouce Abbey. The treasure hunts last between 1 and 2 hours 30 minutes, depending on the age group of your pupils, and are the perfect complement a tree climbing activity Find out more about our treasure hunt activity

Interactive rallies

A school outing to observe and reflect! The interactive rallies are courses to be completed using tablets, with the help of which the children locate the geolocated enigmas scattered around the park and then consult and answer the questions. Each team sets off in the direction indicated on the screen and has to find a small QR code that they scan with their tablet; the question that then appears corresponds to the theme chosen at the start. The team answers the question and sets off in search of the next enigma. The team then follows a 2-3km route around the park and Fontdouce Abbey, in an environment that everyone can enjoy. Allow around 1 hour to complete this interactive rally. 3 themes are proposed, corresponding to 3 different tours:
  • Disney in the Forest: discover Disney hits with a link to nature
  • Adventure Films in the Forest, which concerns major adventure films set in the great outdoors.
  • The Hidden Treasures of the Forest to discover the local flora and fauna
And then, continue your school outing with one of our other activities, such as the Tree Climbing or the Laser Game Outdoor ! Find out more about the Digital Rally activity

Bubble Foot

An amazing school outing! Protected by large bubbles, teenagers (aged 13 and over) will have fun bumping into each other with no risk of injury! It's a great way to have some fun with an activity that's still quite sporty. Every move is a pirouette and every dribble a challenge! Offer your students a unique and dazzling school outing in our park. Youngsters will be able to vary the pleasures with the different scenarios we offer. For even more fun, you can combine several activities with Bubble Foot, including l'Accrobranche, Laser Game Extérieur or l'Archery Game for a truly memorable school outing! Find out more about our Bubble Foot activity

Archery Game

The Archery Game: a fun activity and an exercise in skill for everyone!

Discover the joys of archery in complete safety thanks to our Archery Game. As a team, take on a variety of challenges and put your skill and speed to the test. This activity, suitable for all levels, promotes group cohesion and encourages everyone to demonstrate their precision. The Archery Game lasts between 20 and 30 minutes, but we are flexible and can create tailor-made tournaments by combining this activity with our other offerings and organising games of Bubble Foot, an Outdoor Laser Game competition or Tree climbing.

Find out more about our Archery Game activity

Outdoor Laser Game

A sporting school outing! In a magnificent natural setting, along the banks of the Fontaine Douce, children aged 6 and over are invited to form teams and then compete against each other in the various scenarios devised for them by their dedicated host. Thanks to the lasers fitted to the various weapons, the games take place in a safe environment with several obstacles, giving each little fighter the chance to give it their all! It's an activity that's as much fun as it is sporty, and one that everyone can enjoy on a school outing! Laser Game games last around 20 to 30 minutes and can be followed by an activity
Accrobranche pour une sortie scolaire for a scolar outing Find out more about our Laser Game activity

Visit the abbey

A cultural school outing! Fontdouce Abbey was founded in the 12th century and is a listed historic monument. Restored over the last few decades, it can easily be discovered during a school outing, through a guided tour adapted to young audiences. Your pupils will plunge into over 900 years of history and discover a site bought back during the Revolution by local farmers who are the ancestors of the current owners. The team will be delighted to welcome your pupils to the Abbey for this original discovery, adapted to their age group. A visit lasts around 1 hour. Your school outing can then continue with one of the other activities on offer at the Fontdouce Adventure Park, such as tree climbing. Find out more about our activity Guided tour of Fontdouce Abbey

School workshops

Designed in partnership with the French Ministry of Education, the school workshops take place in the grounds of the former Fontdouce Abbey, next to the Fontdouce Adventure Park. They are aimed at children from nursery school to secondary school.

A total of 8 workshops are on offer:

An activity based around stone to introduce pupils to a new artistic practice and raise their awareness of our built heritage.

Learning objectives :

  • Learn how to cut stone.
  • Acquire a new vocabulary around Romanesque art, Gothic art and stonemasonry.
  • Discover medieval sculpted decorations: plants, crosses, etc.
  • Create your own sculpture.
Duration: 2 hours
Classes: CM to collège
What to bring: blouse or old T-shirt

An activity based on medieval illumination to discover a new art form and train pupils’ eye.

Learning objectives :

  • Discover the history, materials and techniques of book illumination.
  • Learn how paintings were made in the Middle Ages.
  • Make an illuminated initial of your first name.
Duration: 2 hours
Classes: CE to collège
What to bring: a smock or an old T-shirt. The workshop should preferably be held in the morning so that the work can dry; the teacher should send us a list of the first names of the children taking part in the workshop so that we can print the corresponding lettering.

An event focusing on the discovery of stained glass, from its conception to its evolution through history.

Learning objectives :

  • Discover stained glass windows from the Middle Ages to the present day.
  • Observe the techniques involved in stained glass: the interplay of glass and light.
  • Understand the dual function of stained glass: narrative and decorative.
  • Create your own stained-glass window using the technique of painting on glass.
Duration: 2 hours
Classes: CE to collège
Things to remember:  the workshop is best done in the morning so that the work can dry; bring a few crates to store the works.

A series of culinary recipes to discover what people ate in the Middle Ages.

Learning objectives :

  • Discover the cuisine and tableware of the Middle Ages.
  • Find out what foods are eaten at different social levels.
  • Acquire new vocabulary.
  • Making and tasting a simple recipe.
Duration: 2 hours
Classes : from nursery school to college.
What to bring: blouse or old T-shirt

A writing activity to introduce pupils to other forms of lettering.

Learning objectives :

  • Discover the history of writing through the ages.
  • Learn how to use a calamus.
  • Learn new alphabets.
  • Write your name in calligraphy.
Duration: 2 hours
Classes: CE to collège
What to expect: a smock or an old T-shirt. The workshop is best done in the morning so that the work can dry.

An activity based on the creation of a coat of arms to introduce pupils to heraldry, with an emphasis on the continuity of this practice through today’s logos.

Learning objectives :

  • Discover the science of heraldry.
  • Acquire new vocabulary.
  • Question your identity, origins and tastes.
  • Create your own coat of arms.
Duration: 2 hours
Classes: CE to collège
What to bring: a blouse or an old T-shirt

An art-based activity to introduce pupils to the architectural styles of the Middle Ages.

Learning objectives :

  • Recognise and compare the Romanesque and Gothic styles.
  • Acquire architectural vocabulary.
  • Experiment with construction techniques for Romanesque and Gothic arches.
  • Make your own ‘little monster’ model.
Duration: 2 hours
Classes : from kindergarten to secondary school.
What to bring:  a smock or an old T-shirt; also bring a few crates to store the works while they dry. The workshop is preferably held in the morning to allow the work to dry.

An activity based around the ‘jardin des simples’ (a garden where monks grew aromatic and medicinal plants) to discover the role of plants in the Middle Ages and how to recognise them through games designed to awaken the senses. Using magic, the apprentice sorcerers will discover the world of witch plants and the art of potions through culinary experiments.

Learning objectives :

  • Discover the different uses of plants in the Middle Ages.
  • Recognise plants by sight, touch, taste and smell.
  • Discover the garden in a fun way, with an attractive theme: magic.
  • Make your own potion.
Duration: 2 hours
Classes : CP to college
What to bring: a blouse or an old T-shirt

Child-friendly facilities

At Fontdouce, young adventurers can have fun in complete freedom and safety! The facilities and activities are designed to offer children a rich, unforgettable and safe experience!

Un grand parking bus

Activités  sécurisées

Espaces de pique-nique

Sanitaires tout âge

A fun and educational outing on a multi-faceted site

What could be better than stimulating children’s curiosity and discovery while offering them the chance to have fun? In Fontdouce, you have a wide range of activities adapted to all levels to meet the needs of both students and teachers! You can combine historical discoveries, fun activities, and fulfillment in the great outdoors! Our team offers some tips for organizing a great school trip!

Take a look at our offer
 School outings

Photo de Fontdouce près des vignes

A unique setting
for a green school outing

How about a school outing in the great outdoors? Away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the natural areas of Fontdouce are much appreciated for their calm and authenticity: the Fontdouce valley, surrounded by woods and vineyards and crossed by the Fontaine Douce, will seduce you with its serenity and beauty when organising your school outing at the beginning or end of the year. This natural environment favors disconnection. Your students will appreciate this setting for sharing and exchange. The ancient Abbey of Fontdouce, nestling in the heart of this valley, has been restored over the last 50 years, and its charm and scale offer everyone a journey back in time, complemented by the immersion in nature offered by the Fontdouce Adventure Park, which adjoins the Abbey.

Preserved exteriors
Calm and birdsong
Nature activities
Découvrir le lieu

Put together your ideal school outing

Put together your ideal programme by filling in this contact form. We will respond to your request as quickly as possible so that we can move ahead with your school outing project as quickly as possible.

Activities

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Frequently asked questions about school outings at Fontdouce

All school groups are welcome at Fontdouce. We can accommodate a very large number of children at the same time, up to 200, thanks to our wide range of activities. In order to limit the waiting time for each activity, we may ask you to create several sub-groups to divide the children between our different activities.

Yes, it is perfectly possible and even recommended to participate in several activities at Fontdouce to make the most of your school trip. Most of the schools we host opt ​​for one activity in the morning and another in the afternoon. This arrangement allows us to perfectly accommodate school transport constraints and to combine physical and cultural activities, fitting seamlessly into a comprehensive educational program.

In the event of light rain during a school outing, we will guarantee the activities in all cases. However, if a storm is forecast, you are free to cancel or postpone your school outing right up to the last minute. If you still decide to come, we will direct you to the Abbey’s children’s activities to keep them dry. If the storm or thunderstorm is only temporary, we simply invite you to wait in the shelter until the weather calms down. For the lunch break, we provide covered areas in case of bad weather.

Our activities and facilities are checked daily to ensure that children, even very young ones, are perfectly safe during your school outing. What’s more, there are child-friendly sanitary facilities throughout the site. Finally, as the site is isolated from the main roads, there is no risk to traffic. Fontdouce is the ideal place to raise children’s awareness of nature and offer them a moment of complete disconnection.

Fontdouce is also a large green valley with plenty of picnic tables. There’s plenty of room to set up your lunch wherever you like. Children are sure to love our pretty green areas, where they can run, jump and play to make the most of their school outing.

An unforgettable experience

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4.8/5

+1k reviews
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They put their trust in us
to organize their outing!

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Blandine Richard

Fantastic time, fantastic place, fantastic team!! I had a really, really great time thanks to them! I highly recommend them!

25/05/2025
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Titouan le Mauff

Great day out with my children. They loved the different courses and are already looking forward to going back, as am I. The staff are very welcoming and friendly. I highly recommend it for all ages.

27/10/2023
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David Lonjou

Atypical, green setting, lots of activities and a team on hand to support you. We’d love to go back!

26/08/2023
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Aymeric Dur

Fondouce Abbey is magnificent and full of history. The adventure park has brought this idyllic place back to life! I go there regularly and I recommend it!

26/08/2023
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Heline BORDE

Great course, for all levels. Friendly staff, we’ll be back without hesitation. Very pleasant facilities.

27/07/2023
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Muriel Fleuret

Do it again! Lots of courses and great zip lines. All the tree climbing is in the shade, which is great in summer! You can spend the whole day there, and there are picnic tables.

27/07/2023
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Kevin Houbar

Excellent accrobranche park, a young and smiling team, my family warmly recommends you to go there.

27/07/2023
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Création Melle

The Fontdouce adventure park is really great fun for families, friends and colleagues, with lots of varied activities. And the setting is beautiful and relaxing.

26/03/2023
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Aurore Michel

Top afternoon at the laser game and the accrobranche! The kids (and the adults!) had a great time and all they want to do is come back! And let’s not forget the team members, who take care of everything. To be recommended without moderation!

26/03/2023
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Camille

Super accrobranche where we went twice in one week. Very well organised, the instructors are very friendly, the site is beautiful and well equipped (picnic tables, space for accompanying adults, etc.). Several varied courses, including 3 for 3-8 year olds. It was perfect! Thank you so much!

28/02/2023
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Aurélie Morin

The scenery is magnificent, the team welcoming, and there are a variety of sports and leisure activities on offer for all ages. There’s a snack bar, toilets and the chance to relax in a net in the heights or on the terrace. Picnic tables everywhere. Reservations can be made on the website

26/02/2023
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Mathieu N (blinkonly)

Very quiet, cool in the woods, great welcome with a very small child and a course suitable for young children with even a small zip line. Great fun!

27/02/2022

Coming to Fontdouce

Organize your visit

Address

1, rue du Vivier

Fontdouce Abbey

17770 Saint Bris des Bois

Itinerary

Opening hours

Easter vacations (all 3 zones) and All Saints’ Day: daily from 2pm to 7pm

Weekends and public holidays:
April to October: 2pm to 7pm
July and August: 10am to 8pm

Open all year round for groups

Book your activity  so you don't have to wait at the entrance

Use our online store to book your visit directly on our website. All you have to do is give us your name, the time and the number of people included in your booking to enjoy our activities. 

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Further information

Picnic
areas

Free Parking

Catering
services

Zen spaces

Dogs accepted

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