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Origin and history

Lakanal High School, located in Sceaux in the Hauts-de-Seine, was built between 1882 and 1885 by the architect Anatole de Baudot in a style inspired by the Lycée Michelet de Vanves. Inaugurated in 1885 under the Third Republic, it was conceived as a "school in the countryside", intended for talented but fragile students, in a wooded setting that conformed to the hygienist principles of the time. Its park, still present, is home to centuries-old and rare trees, and the establishment now hosts a college, a high school and preparatory classes.

The high school was named Joseph Lakanal, who in 1794 had proposed the creation of 20,000 schools and INALCO. Originally reserved for boys, he welcomed Parisian residents arriving by train from Denfert-Rochereau. During the First World War, he was transformed into an auxiliary hospital (No. 219), while maintaining the courses. His monument to the dead, by Albert Pouthier, pays tribute to 174 former students who died in battle, including Charles Péguy and Alain-Fournier.

During the Second World War, the high school served as a German military hospital while sheltering students from Lakanal and Marie-Curie, the latter being occupied by the Luftwaffe. Legends evoke undergrounds linking the two settlements, used to save Jewish families. After the war, the high school extended with annexes to Savigny-sur-Orge (1947) and Antony (1958), becoming mixed in 1971. He has been known for his preparatory classes and protected architectural heritage since 2001.

The establishment houses a monumental fresco by Octave Denis Victor Guillonnet (1899), classified, representing Les Félibres attending a rugby party. Its park, gymnasium, and some rooms (such as the large parlor) are protected. The lycée inspired cultural works, such as Julien Clerc's song Bourg-la-Reine or Jean-Marc Parisis' novel Le Lycée des artistes. It remains a symbol of Republican education, mixing historical heritage and educational modernity.

Architecturally, the high school reflects the influence of the English model, with large green spaces and an organization favouring boarding, although the latter declined in the 20th century. The missing primary classes already benefited from artistic and sports education. The site, partially destroyed (piscine, chapel, ride around 1980), retains major elements of its initial design, such as covered meadows and internal circulations.

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