Ever wondered where the first cinema and audiovisual section in France was created? Here in front of you stands the Lyc\u00e9e g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Paul Val\u00e9ry. It is more than just a school. It’s a hub of innovation and history.
Lyc\u00e9e g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Paul Val\u00e9ry is a public general and technological school in Paris’s 12th arrondissement. You can find it at 38 Boulevard Soult. This school is known for science, economics, literature and the arts. The Lyc\u00e9e g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Paul Val\u00e9ry is especially famous for its cinema and audiovisual courses. These courses were the first of their kind in France. They started in 1983.
Let’s step back in time. The Lyc\u00e9e g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Paul Val\u00e9ry was built in the early 1960s. It was constructed in two phases. The location was once the site of old fortifications. It was also the site of the Stade de la Porte-Dor\u00e9e. The school uses some of the stadium’s sports facilities. Initially it was called the annex of the Lyc\u00e9e Jean-Baptiste-Say. Later it was known as the mixed Lyc\u00e9e of Boulevard Soult. In 1962, it was finally named after the writer and poet Paul Val\u00e9ry.
Did you know that Lyc\u00e9e g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Paul Val\u00e9ry is the largest school in the 12th arrondissement? It is large in both area and student numbers. The Lyc\u00e9e g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Paul Val\u00e9ry stretches 200 meters long and has four levels. It was built following the post-war baby boom. At its creation, its geographical area was the largest in Paris. It covered part of eastern Paris and the Val-de-Marne department.
The Lyc\u00e9e g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Paul Val\u00e9ry hosts about 1,400 students. This includes college, high school, and preparatory class students. There are about 100 teachers. For over twenty years, the school has offered many artistic courses. These courses focus on audiovisual professions. Since 1983, it was the first to offer cinema and audiovisual section in France. It is also the only high school in Paris that offers a cinema option in preparatory classes. This is in collaboration with the \u00c9cole Normale Sup\u00e9rieure.
Architecturally, the Lyc\u00e9e g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Paul Val\u00e9ry resembles other schools from the early 1960s. Architects J.C. Dondel and R. Dhuit designed it. The Lyc\u00e9e g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Paul Val\u00e9ry features a monobloc design. The same window repeats along the facade. You’ll notice polychrome stained glass under the canopies. Also observe the light green, dark green, and orange mosaics on the administrative building walls.
There used to be a giant bronze sculpture at the entrance. Robert Couturier created it. It represented a couple with a child. However, it was removed after a few years without explanation.
Lyc\u00e9e g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Paul Val\u00e9ry is also known for a sociological documentary. Michel Fresnel filmed a group of students annually for ten years. The documentary is titled Que deviendront-ils? It translates to What Will They Become?
Many notable people have attended or taught at Lyc\u00e9e g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Paul Val\u00e9ry. Alumni include Alexandre Adler, a journalist, and Martine Aubry, the mayor of Lille. France Gall, a musician, also attended here. Former teachers include Mich\u00e8le Blumenthal, a mayor of the 12th arrondissement.
The Lyc\u00e9e g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Paul Val\u00e9ry stands as a testament to Parisian education. Its rich history and focus on innovation make it a unique place. From its early days as an annex to its current status as a hub for artificial intelligence, this school continues to shape future generations.