Where do we stay?
You will be spending approximately two weeks at the Abbaye d'Ardenne just outside of Caen, France and the remaining portion of the program at the European Academy at Otzenhausen (EAO) in Otzenhausen, Germany.
The student rooms in the Abbaye are dormitory-style; each accommodates two and includes a shower in each room. The abbey, a complex which includes a good example of a 13th century Norman Gothic church, is located 4 miles to the west of Caen. It was partially destroyed during the Second World War. It was one of the last German holdouts during the D-day invasion due to its strategic location. On a clear day, it is possible to see the invasion beaches from the top of the Abbaye. Many Canadian soldiers were killed retaking the Abbaye.
The facilities at the EAO offer the use of well equipped and spacious conference hall for lectures and round tables, comfortable two-person bedrooms with private bath and shower, modern kitchen and dining facilities, a spacious and comfortable Bistro Bar designed for the guests, comfortable entertainment and relaxation, replete with television, pool tables, bowling alley, and game rooms. Hiking and other re-creation are easily accessed in the area. The Academy sits within the picturesque village of Otzenhausen, near the larger community of Nonnweiler, where students may find other restaurants and entertainment features. A spacious and well-kept yard surrounds the Academy, affording students an environmentally pleasant area for recreation and picnicking. Phone, computer and laundry facilities are available. The Academy provides a professional staff that is on duty each day. Medical and hospital facilities are located in Nonnweiler just a few minutes from the Academy. A depot located just three miles from the Academy connects the region to Luxembourg, Saarbrücken and other major European rail hubs for train travel.
Where do we go on field trips?
In France, you will be visiting a majority of the beaches and cemeteries made famous in WW II such as Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, the American Cemetery, Canadian Cemetery, Pointe du Hoc, Verdun, etc. You also get to tour Mont. St. Michel, which is a famous church on an island in northern France.
The Germany portion of the trip makes excursions to sites important for the European Union and its government such as the EU Parliament in Strasbourg, European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, NATO Headquarters in Brussels, NATO military headquarters in Mons, Belgium, and government briefings in Paris, Brussels and Berlin.
