‘The most beautiful high school in France’ is how some novels describe it. This is Lycée Jean-Baptiste Corot. This school is not just a place of learning. It is steeped in history and beauty.
Lycée Jean-Baptiste Corot is located about 20 kilometers south of Paris. Around 2,600 students attend this school. It offers general and technological education. Students can pursue BTS and CPGE programs.
The lycée’s history is quite interesting. The site was originally a feudal castle. The castle still retains its imposing form. You can see traces of its prestigious past. Look at the pink brick towers and the keep. Notice the bridges and moats.
The park surrounding Lycée Jean-Baptiste Corot has magnificent trees. Rare species like the ginkgo and catalpa are here. Over the centuries the castle faced destruction. It was devastated by fire abandoned pillaged and even bombed. Each time its owners restored it.
Prestigious guests once stayed here. Louis XI and Charles VII were among them. Madame de Sévigné a relative of the Marquis de Vins also visited. The Marquis de Vins created the French-style park and grand canal in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
In the 19th century Marshal Louis-Nicolas Davout improved the castle’s appearance. As mayor of Savigny-sur-Orge he helped develop the city. The large square in front of the castle bears his name.
Later the family of Alexis Duparchy continued Davout’s work. Duparchy was an engineer who helped build the Suez Canal. His family embellished the estate. They restored the castle after World War II bombardments.
In 1948 Duparchy’s heirs could not restore the castle. They ceded it to the State. The Ministry of National Education decided to build a lycée. It would be built in a pavilion style. This style would respect the restored site while using the space well.
The lycée opened in 1950 with two classes. It began as an annex of Lycée Lakanal de Sceaux. The charm and light of the location are reminiscent of Jean-Baptiste Corot’s paintings. This inspired its name.
In 1953 Lycée Corot was officially born. The lycée is set in a 16-hectare park. It has been completely renovated. New spacious buildings replaced older prefabricated structures. The historic castle buildings have been restored.
Today Lycée Jean-Baptiste Corot has modern equipment. It serves artistic athletic scientific and business studies. There are theater projection music and art rooms. It also features a large CDI a theater and a cafeteria.
Lycée Jean-Baptiste Corot has partnerships with communities associations businesses grandes écoles and universities. The school supports students and aims for their success. Lycée Jean-Baptiste Corot achieves excellent results in exams. It helps students gain access to prestigious grandes écoles.
The school’s name honors Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot. He was a French landscape and portrait painter. He was also a printmaker. Corot was born in Paris in 1796. He died in 1875. His work bridged Neoclassicism and Impressionism.
Lycée Jean-Baptiste Corot stands as a testament to history education and art. It embodies the spirit of its namesake. It inspires students to achieve excellence. It provides a beautiful and modern learning environment.