Lycée et Collège Henri IV

“Domus Omnibus Una”. Does that motto sound familiar to any of you? It’s Latin for “A Home For All” and it belongs to Lycée et Collège Henri IV, the grand institution we’re standing before. This esteemed school, nestled right here in the heart of Paris, isn’t just a building, it’s a living, breathing testament to history, knowledge, and even revolution. Imagine, back in the 6th century, this very spot housed the royal Abbey of St Genevieve. Clovis, the king who united the Franks, chose this very hill to build the monastery. He was later laid to rest within its walls, cementing the abbey’s prestige. Centuries passed, the abbey flourished, its library becoming one of the largest in Europe. Then, the storm of the French Revolution swept through France. The monks were expelled and the abbey’s treasures were claimed by the new republic. The building itself, however, was given a new life, a life dedicated to learning. In 1796, Lycée et Collège Henri IV, first known as the École Centrale du Panthéon, was born. That’s right, this very school was the first public school in all of France. The name might have changed a few times since then – Lycée Napoleon, Collège Henri IV, even Lycée Corneille for a brief period – but the spirit of learning has always remained. Look closely, you can still see the abbey’s past woven into the present. The Clovis tower, a proud sentinel against time, still stands tall. The former abbey library, where scholars once pored over ancient texts, now houses the school’s own impressive collection. Even the chapel, once echoing with Gregorian chants, now serves as a place for students to gather in reflection. This is more than just a school, it’s a crucible from which some of France’s greatest minds emerged. Think of philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Michel Foucault, President Emmanuel Macron, even the architect of the Suez Canal, Ferdinand de Lesseps. All of them walked these halls, sat in these classrooms, learned from the same spirit of knowledge that pervades Lycée et Collège Henri IV even today. So, as you leave here, remember this: Lycée et Collège Henri IV isn’t just a building; it’s a symbol of France’s unwavering commitment to knowledge. It’s a bridge between an ancient past and a vibrant future, and a home for all those who thirst for learning.