FRBV25- Discovering the city of Dunkerque

The students travelled by public transport to the centre of the city of Dunkerque. Once on the main square, under the statue of the local hero Jean Bart, a teacher explained briefly the history of Dunkerque, its main traditions and economic facts. She also mentioned the specificity of its architecture as a city 90% destroyed during WWII.

The students  were then divided into international pairs and given a questionnaire and a map. They had to find out what monuments were represented in the pictures, but only a small detail was shown. They also had to give some information about the place and take a selfie with their penpal in front of the monument. They also had to write the numbers of the monuments on a map.

They were able to discover the existence of the two belfries on the UNESCO Heritage List, the memorial dedicated to the soldiers who liberated the city of Dunkirk during the Second World War. They also visited the Saint Eloi church which was built around 1450 and where the tomb of Jean Bart is located, the town hall, the Leughenaer Tower, the Duchess Anne, one of the most large French three-masted ship, the Princess Elizabeth, a steamboat which took part in Operation Dynamo. They were also able to discover the remains of the entrance to the arsenal built by Vauban during the time of King Louis XIV. They witnessed the scars WWII left in the city and realized the resilience of the population.

They walked through the city in small groups in a friendly atmosphere.

The students showed commitment and interest. They were able to discover all the places and monuments, and appreciate the importance of Dunkerque's historic heritage, while working on their orienteering skills. They also realized how vivid the traditions are in Dunkerque.

Most of them managed to solve all the puzzles and take the photos in the right places. They communicated with their partner and it was for them a good experience.