The CE2 classes prepared for a trip back in time on river navigation and life on and along the Rhine.
The CE2C started the adventure with a visit to the Musée de la Navigation fluviale in the old town center.
They were followed by the other two CE2 classes.
The Schifffahrtmuseum is one of Germany’s oldest inland navigation museums, located in the castle tower on the banks of the Rhine.
Accompanied by one of their German teachers to facilitate translation of the museum guide, the students first learned about the history of the building that now houses the museum.
The course then turned to the geography of the Rhine: it is 1,230 km long, from Switzerland, where it rises, to the Netherlands, where it flows into the North Sea, via river trade, essential to the region’s development.
They all enjoyed the unusual stories, such as the flooding of the underground during heavy rainfall.
They were also surprised to discover “Dutch rafts”.
These huge rafts were used to transport timber for boat building or for the foundations of towns around the North Sea.
Measuring up to 800 meters long, 90 meters wide and 7 meters thick, they housed 300 to 400 people, huts, animals and even small towers used to send signals.
Once the presentation was over, the children were able to experiment with the interactive stations, touch and try out the different objects used to build wooden boats, make the same gestures as the craftsmen of the time, and discover an impressive collection of model boats.
From boats of yesteryear to the present day… from wood to iron, they reviewed the tools, objects, materials…
And if this has inspired you to visit the museum yourself, not only does the museum offer a free guided public tour of around an hour every Sunday, but you can also enjoy a tasty post-tour snack while watching the famous river in the small restaurant at the top of the building.
Museum | Freunde und Förderer des SchifffahrtMuseums im Schlossturm e.V. Düsseldorf
