THE "LYCÉE HENRI IV"

23, rue Clovis
75231 PARIS CEDEX 05
33 1 46 34 02 20

The "Lycée Henri IV" is on a site with buildings which, from century to century, were in the heart of the spiritual, intellectual and social life of Paris.

Built to shelter monks in the VIth century, the Sainte Geneviève Abbey was invaded and devastated during the following centuries. In the late middle of the XIIth century, the Abbey depended on the Pope who reformed it.

The end of the XIIth century saw the beginning of the reign of Philippe-Auguste who endeavoured himself to reinforce the role of Paris as a capital, by embellishing, cleansing it. From that time, dated the constructions from the old abbey, which vestiges can be seen in the basement of the "Lycée". At that time the Abbey gets years of intense mental activity.

The arrival of Henri IV on the throne was a new stage for the life of the Abbey.

The buildings were declared national property in 1790, during the French Revolution, the goods, the library with sixty thousand volumes were inventoried.

By passed law in October 25, 1795, Convention decided the creation of high-schools, under the name of "écoles centrales". The Abbey accepted in 1796 its new designation of "École du Panthéon". The solemn presentation of the School took place on October 22, 1796. The School acquired quickly a great notoriety by collecting many pupils due to the destruction of the close-by "collèges", by exempting a teaching of quality, thanks to famous teachers (Cuvier was a professor of natural history there). The School was called "Lycée Napoléon" in 1804.

With the Restoration and the Monarchy of July, the "Lycée" became famous and had bright results thanks to the value of the teaching staff and the exceptional recruitment.

During the Commune, insurrectionists had cut off themselves in the enclosure from the "Lycée". They were captured without combat by a unit who had entered through an underpass connecting the Panthéon to the basement from the "Lycée".

The beginning of the 20th century did not bring any transformation to the aspect and life of the "Lycée".

It remains to be wished that through the transformations related to the modifications of the schooling, the widening and modernisation of the programs, the society evolution, it will remain that spirit that anyone who went to Henri IV keeps.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS As any pupil who remained a few years there, I think that I will keep from the "Lycée Henri IV" a mixture of memories painful related to the work which we had to provide, always more, always better and happy thanks to the people that I met there, teachers as well as pupils, with whom I have been keeping intense and durable relations. Thank you to the "Lycée Henri IV" to have worked me and to have given me the means of becoming what I am today.

Copyright © 2006 E.K.