Easter activities across the Channel for the whole family.

Less than two hours’ drive from both Calais and Dieppe and packed with things to do for all the family, Amiens is the perfect place for a fuss-free city break from the UK. Its beautiful gothic cathedral, fashionable St Leu district and enchanting floating gardens are just some of the city’s highlights, but if you’re looking for something special to entertain the kids this Easter, a prehistoric adventure to Amiens Zoo should do the trick.

Over the Easter weekend the zoo is seeking budding palaeontologists to help discover dinosaur bones and learn all about the ferocious creatures while enjoying a day out at one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions.

The zoo is based in seven hectares of land right in the city centre, and is home to more than 700 animals, including zebras, alligators, and even the highly endangered Sumatran Tiger. Tickets to the Jurassic Paques event are included in the entry price for the zoo. Family tickets offering entry for one adult and one child are €12.90.

Bruges is one of the world’s most beautiful cities and it isn’t hard to see why. Just walking around the city’s historic centre is like stepping back in time. Like much of Belgium, Bruges has many medieval buildings and bridges to explore, and if you fancy a change of scenery you can escape the crowds and take a short walk to the relaxing Minnewaterpark and the nearby beguinage, which dates back to the 13th century.

If you’re planning on visiting Bruges then Easter is the perfect time to go, not least to visit the city’s world-renowned chocolate shops. Two of the city’s finest are Mary, which has held the Belgian Royal Warrant since 1942, and The Chocolate Line, where chocolate connoisseur Dominique Persoone creates luxurious chocolates using cocoa from his own plantation in Mexico and honey from his rooftop beehives!

One of Bruges must-see attractions is the Basilica of the Holy Blood. The basilica itself is fairly typical of a medieval Catholic church, but inside is one of the world’s most curious relics – a vial of Jesus Christ’s blood from the crucifixion. The relic was brought back from the Holy Land during the Crusades, and according to legend has the power to become liquid (but only at noon on Fridays). This miracle hasn’t been seen since 1388, but keep your eye on it just in case it happens again!

Rouen is a city built for history lovers and culture vultures. This medieval time capsule is famous for its connection to William the Conqueror and Joan of Arc, and some of Monet’s most impressive paintings were inspired by Rouen’s magnificent cathedral and its three mismatched towers.

This Easter, run away and join the circus in Rouen at the SPRING festival. Until 16 April, Europe’s leading contemporary circus festival will see Normandy’s premier arts and performance spaces team up to present a packed schedule of more than one hundred events for everyone to get involved in. Don’t worry if you have a fear of clowns, you won’t find Pennywise here – the festival celebrates contemporary circus, so clowns are few and far between. These spectacular performances combine dance, acrobatics, costume, music and staging to bring innovative, spectacular, and astounding entertainment to tens of thousands of visitors - this year’s theme is “the conquest of space”. SPRING brings together professional acrobats, dancers, and performers from across the world to present their art, display their talents and encourage the next generation of performers.

Book a day return crossing with DFDS on its Dover to Calais or Dover to Dunkirk route from £39 for a car and four passengers.

Enjoy a city break in Europe with DFDS with a 3-day short break fare starting at £99 for a car and up to four people from Dover to Calais and Dover to Dunkirk.

Browse a selection of fragrances, cosmetics and alcohol in DFDS’ duty-free shops on board and at the ports in Calais and Dunkirk and save up to 50 per cent off UK high-street prices.

DFDS also offers up to three sailings per day on its Newhaven to Dieppe route, with crossings taking four hours. Fares start from £49 each way for a car and two people.

Facilities onboard the ship include a bar, restaurant, and a duty-free shop, plus a quiet lounge with reclining seats. For extra privacy customers can book a cabin from £24 each way.

For more information or to book visit www.dfds.com.

Michelle Ulyatt / Adam Toombs / Charlotte Burnap / Karen Bayfield

Roch PR Ltd

T: +44 1304 272509

E: dfdsteam@rochpr.com

DFDS provides ferry and transport services in and around Europe, generating annual revenues of EUR 2.3 bn.

To over 10,000 freight customers we deliver high performance and superior reliability through ferry & port terminal services, and transport and logistics solutions. DFDS delivers high reliability to more than 10,000 freight customers through ferry and port terminal services and transport and logistics solutions.

For more than five million passengers, it provides safe overnight and short sea ferry services.

Our 8,000 employees are located on ships and in in offices across 20 countries. DFDS was founded in 1866, is headquartered in Copenhagen, and listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen.

In the UK, DFDS operates passenger ferry services on routes from Dover to Calais, Dover to Dunkirk, Newcastle to Amsterdam and Newhaven to Dieppe.

DFDS has been named ‘Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator’ for 11 years running (2012-2022), as well as the ‘World’s Leading Ferry Operator’ for the last 12 years (2011-22).

DFDS currently operates up to 54 sailings a day between Dover and Calais and Dunkirk. DFDS also offers two daily sailings between Newcastle and Amsterdam. In addition, the UK network includes a passenger and freight service between Newhaven and Dieppe, which has four daily sailings and is owned by Transmanche Ferries.

For further information about DFDS, or to find out about the latest sailing times, fares and offers across all routes from the UK, visit www.dfds.com.