Lycée Pierre-Gilles-de-Gennes – ENCPB

“A school built on the ghost of automobiles?” you might wonder. It’s true! Welcome to Lycée Pierre-Gilles-de-Gennes – ENCPB, a place where the echoes of engines once roared. Before dedicating itself to nurturing young scientific minds, this very spot housed the Delahaye automobile factory from 1898 to 1954. Now, instead of the clang of metal, you’d hear the murmur of students discussing complex equations or the soft hum of laboratory equipment. Established in 1953, the Lycée Pierre-Gilles-de-Gennes – ENCPB was originally called the École Nationale de Chimie Physique et Biologie de Paris. It sought to fill the need for skilled laboratory technicians in the burgeoning post-war science scene. Starting with a modest intake of 50 students in 1955 at its first location on rue Corvisart, the school has come a long way. Since then, this institution has blossomed, moving to rue du Banquier in 1958, then finally settling here on rue Pirandello in the 1970s. It has expanded its curriculum, evolving from training technicians to offering preparatory classes for prestigious grandes écoles, national diplomas like the BTS, and even post-BTS courses. And if these walls could talk, they’d tell tales that go beyond textbooks. The Lycée Pierre-Gilles-de-Gennes – ENCPB found itself on the silver screen, serving as the backdrop for scenes in films like “Juliette et Juliette” (1974) and even the critically acclaimed “Caché” (2005) by Michael Haneke. Today, Lycée Pierre-Gilles-de-Gennes – ENCPB stands as a testament to the ever-evolving spirit of scientific pursuit, where the past and the future intersect in the heart of Paris.