Château de la Baudonnière
- French language immersion school centre

The Château is situated in the region of La Manche in Normandy. It is 90 minutes from Cherbourg and Caen, 15 minutes from Avranches, Villedieu-les-Poëles, the local beaches and the fishing port of Granville and 30 minutes from Coutances and Le Mont St Michel. The Château nestles in its own grounds which incorporate an orchard and cider press, boule pitch, farmyard, a lake for fishing and canoeing, a river, an assault course and climbing wall, archery range, woodland and meadows, volleyball court and stables as well a floodlit hardcourt area perfect for football, tennis and basketball. It can accommodate a large school group plus accompanying staff in comfortable modern rooms with excellent (mostly en suite) bathroom facilities. If you would like a brochure please fill out our simple online form.

La Philosophie

The Château is all about French language immersion. Everything that is done at the Chateau involves using practical spoken French to convey meaning, and the children are encouraged to speak French to get what they want. A friendly, French environment supports this philosophy.

As one of our party leaders said; "The classroom situation is always artificial to some degree. Here my pupils know its for real. If they know that when they want something, they have to ask for it in French, they will do it!"

The pupils leave after our full week programme having had a great time in a fun but educational environment. Their ability to speak French will have improved substantially but more importantly pupils will have the confidence to use French and they will understand the practical benefits of learning and using the language. We hope this translates to having pupils who are both more able and more motivated back in the classroom on your return.

L'Histoire

1990 - It was a rainy day in Cherbourg. A headteacher was checking out pupils on an exchange visit. As he wandered through the town he was surprised to come across two pupils, looking bored, bedraggled and more than a little dispirited.They explained that their hosts were out at work, so they had been given sandwiches, shown a bus stop and sent into town, with instructions to return at supper time.The headteacher, Michael Lewis, was less than impressed. He resolved, then and there that some better way should be found to introduce his young charges to the joys of speaking French.He found it. Château de la Baudonnière, and lovingly set about the task of converting it into a spacious centre of excellence for learning. Surrounded by forest with its own lake and a river that runs through it, the Result is just perfect. Groups of pupils from this school still use it regularly but other schools can go there too!