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Origin and history

La Sorbonne found its origins in the college of Sorbonne, founded around 1250 by Robert de Sorbon, chaplain and confessor of King Louis IX. Originally intended to house poor students in theology, this college quickly became a symbol of the University of Paris, one of the oldest in Europe. Over the centuries, his name expanded to refer to the entire university, thanks in particular to his central role in medieval and reborn intellectual life. The Sorbonne was dissolved in 1793 during the French Revolution, like all the academic institutions of Ancien Régime, before being reinvested under Napoleon.

In the 17th century, Cardinal Richelieu, former pupil and principal of the college, undertook an ambitious reconstruction of the buildings, entrusting the works to architect Jacques Lemercier. Only the chapel of Saint Ursule, a Baroque masterpiece, remains from this period. The chapel, deconsecrated in 1905, now houses exhibitions. The rest of the present complex was rebuilt between 1885 and 1901 by Henri-Paul Nenot, in a neo-Renaissance and classical style, to accommodate the faculties of literature and science. This monumental project, marked by frescoes and sculptures celebrating knowledge, reflects the educational ambition of the Third Republic.

The Sorbonne was a high place for the events of May 1968, symbol of student revolts. After the university reform of 1970, the University of Paris was divided into thirteen institutions, and the building became a space shared between several institutions, including Sorbonne University, Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, and the chancellery of Paris universities. Despite tensions related to its management and limited access, the Sorbonne remains a historic monument, combining architectural heritage, intellectual memory and contemporary issues.

The site also houses major artistic works, such as Le Bois sacré de Puvis de Chavannes in the grand amphitheatre, or the frescoes of Clementine-Hélène Dufau in the Hall of Authorities. The library of the Sorbonne, with its Art Nouveau decorations, and the statues of the court of honour (like those of Victor Hugo and Louis Pasteur) recall its role in disseminating knowledge. Finally, student rituals, such as the touch of the shoe of the statue of Montaigne to bring luck to the examinations, perpetuate its mythical aura.

Partially classified as historical monuments (chapelle in 1887, grand amphitheatre in 1975), the Sorbonne embodies both a medieval heritage, a republican modernity and a place of memory of social struggles. Its architecture, scenery and history make it a national symbol, well beyond its academic function.

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