The imposing silhouette of the Facult de Droit rises before you. Its very presence whispers tales of legal minds and historical shifts. This isn’t just a building. It’s a living testament to Strasbourg’s enduring connection to the world of law.
The Facult de Droit’s story begins long ago. Even before its current incarnation on the Esplanade campus in 1962. Its roots stretch back to 1804. Twelve schools of law were then created. Strasbourg proudly welcomed one. This was a time of revolutionary change. Universities were abolished and replaced with special schools. The Facult de Droit endured. It persevered through turbulent times.
The twentieth century saw the Facult de Droit move to the new Esplanade campus. The building designed by Roger Hummel is striking. Its shape resembles a scale. This architectural marvel was recognized in 2005. It was officially listed as a historical monument. It even earned the label “20th Century Heritage”. Within its walls four impressive amphitheaters stand. They bear the names of distinguished professors. Carr de Malberg Aubry and Rau Eisenmann and Bischoff. Smaller rooms for tutorials line the north and south wings. The dean’s office administrative services and a library reside within. The Association of Law Students AED and the MediaDroit association also have spaces here.
The Facult de Droit isn’t just about classrooms. It’s a place of intellectual giants. Think Christophe-Guillaume Koch the jurist and former rector of the University of Strasbourg. Or Johann-Georg-Daniel Arnold his student who became a professor and dean. Charles Aubry and Charles-Frédéric Rau taught here for decades. Their influence continues to resonate. Raymond Carr de Malberg Ren Capitant Charles Eisenmann and Jean-Marc Bischoff all left their mark. Alex Weill served as dean. Jeanne-Marie Tuffery-Andrieu held this position as recently as 2021.
The Facult de Droit has shaped countless lives. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Klemens Wenzel von Metternich and Robert Schuman once walked these halls. Their presence lingers in the very stones. Leon Meiss Antoinette Feuerwerker Raymond Forni and Jean-Claude Juncker all studied here. They went on to achieve remarkable things. This institution nurtured their legal minds. It launched them into the world.
The Facult de Droit boasts other buildings too. The Escarpe building houses more amphitheaters and a vital legal research library. The Platane building once stood beside a large plane tree. It served as a space for tutorials. This tree is gone now. The building itself faces demolition. Athéna offers a single amphitheater. The Alinéa library though not officially attached houses a large collection of legal works.
Today the Facult de Droit continues to thrive. It remains a beacon of legal learning. It houses over 5000 students and nearly 130 permanent teachers. The Facult de Droit’s enduring legacy isn’t just about laws. It’s about shaping minds fostering international collaboration and embodying the spirit of Strasbourg itself. It is a place that inspires legal minds to help shape the future. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of legal education.