Contemplate the walls before you. This is the Lycée Voltaire. Inaugurated in 1891 by President Sadi Carnot this school has a rich history. It was once the only lycèe in northeast Paris.
The Lycée Voltaire stands in the 11th arrondissement. Its address is 101 avenue de la République. Eugène Train designed the school. Construction began in 1885. It finished in 1890.
Imagine the first students arriving in 1890. The Lycée Voltaire aimed to combine classical education. It also focused on practical and scientific knowledge. This helped students meet the needs of the neighborhood.
Initially, the Lycée Voltaire was a boys-only school. It gradually became coeducational starting in 1973. Today, it’s a public secondary school. It offers general education and technology programs.
The Lycée Voltaire’s architecture is impressive. Buildings surround a central courtyard. There are courtyards to the east and west. A courtyard for physical education sits to the north. The original design accommodated 1200 pupils including 500 boarders. The Lycée Voltaire featured 47 classrooms. There were 17 studies and specialized rooms. Physics, chemistry, and history each had two lecture rooms.
The Lycée Voltaire also housed a collections room. There was a drawing room and modeling workshops. A library offered students a quiet place to study. M. Gaumont equipped a screening room. The building included apartments for senior staff. Accommodation was available for 20 teachers and 20 domestic workers. The decorations featured metal and ceramics.
Look closely at the courtyard. A marble monument of Voltaire stands here. Victor Ségoffin created this statue. It was originally intended for the Panthéon. Political changes led to its placement here at the Lycée Voltaire.
Many famous figures attended the Lycée Voltaire. Edgar Faure the politician studied here. André Lwoff a Nobel Prize-winning microbiologist was also a student. Alan Stivell the musician walked these halls. Other notable alumni include Fernand Braudel the historian. Yves Boisset the film director is also an alumni.
The Lycée Voltaire has seen renovations. A major project occurred from 1992 to 2002. Today the school maintains high academic standards. In 2023, the Lycée Voltaire had an 87% success rate on the Baccalauréat.
The Lycée Voltaire offers a variety of specializations. Students can study history, geography, and political science. Humanities, literature, and philosophy are options. The Lycée Voltaire also teaches foreign languages and cultures. Mathematics, computer science and physical sciences are available. Students may also select economics and engineering. Arts are part of the curriculum.
The Lycée Voltaire teaches several languages. These include English, Spanish and German. Italian, Japanese, and Arabic are also taught. In 2022, a preparatory class for literature and social sciences opened.
The Lycée Voltaire continues to evolve. It strives to provide quality education. The school adapts to meet the needs of its students. The Lycée Voltaire remains a vital part of Parisian education. It stands as a testament to the power of learning.