Paris - Sorbonne

The influential cathedral canons of medieval Paris had the reputation of being greedy for power and possessions, but Canon Robert de Sorbon, Louis IX's confessor, seems to have been an exception. In 1257, with the king's support, he founded a college (known after its founder as the Sorbonne) in which poor students of theology could live and study at his expense.

The college soon developed into a leading school of theology and became a university, only to decline in importance in the late Middle Ages. Cardinal Richelieu, as Rector of the University, saved its buildings from falling into ruin and had it partly rebuilt by Jacques Lemercier between 1624 and 1642. In the reign of Napoleon the Sorbonne was considerably enlarged and was given the status of a State university. The present buildings were erected between 1885 and 1901 (architect, Nénot), with 22 large lecture theaters, 38 tutorial rooms, 37 lecturers' rooms, 240 laboratories, a library, an observatory amd administrative offices.

In May 1968 the Sorbonne was one of the centers of the student unrest which spread throughout France and led to a general strike. A subsequent university reform split the Sorbonne into four universities. These all have their headquarters and some departments here, but most departments are scattered throughout the city and suburbs. Altogether there are now 13 universities in the Paris region.

The main front of the Sorbonne on Rue des Ecoles is decorated with allegorical representations of the sciences. To the right of the main entrance is the Secrerariat, where visitors can apply to see the principal lecture theater, the Grand Amphithéâtre, which has seating for 2,700. Here too can be seen a famous mural by the neo-classical painter Puvis de Chavannes, "The Sacred Grove".

The chapel in the courtyard of the Sorbonne was built between 1635 and 1684. In the south transept is the tomb of Cardinal Richelieu (d. 1642), by François Girardon (1628-1715) after a design by Charles Le Brun (1619-90).