Lycée Pierre-Corneille

Nave of the former chapel, today an auditorium.[4]

The Protestant Reformation of the 16th century led the Archbishop of Rouen, Charles, Cardinal de Bourbon, to protect the influence of the Catholic Church by creating a school to educate the children of the aristocracy and bourgeoisie in accordance with the purest doctrinal principles of Roman Catholicism. The school started teaching in 1593 run by the Jesuits and known initially as the Collège de Bourbon.[2]

From 1595 to 1604 teaching ceased because of Jesuit expulsions. Between 1614 and 1631 the gatehouse and chapel were built. By 1662, the lycée had taught two thousand pupils.[2]

The chapel was opened in 1631 although foundation stone had been laid in 1614 by Marie de Médicis, the widow of King Henri IV of France. The chapel blends both late gothic and classical architectural styles in its fifty-two metre nave. It became a listed building in 1908.[2]

In 1762 the school became known as the Collège Royal after the Jesuits had been expelled from France. After the French Revolution it became associated with the 'Ecole Centrale' following the ideas of the Age of Enlightenment, and reducing study of humanities in favour of a broader-based curriculum.[2]

A class at the Lycée Pierre-Corneille, 1902. Artists Robert Antoine Pinchon (second row, right) and Marcel Duchamp (third row, left, out of focus). On Pinchon's right is very likely Pierre Dumont

After 1803 it became known as the 'Lycée Impérial' and taught humanities and mathematics following the principles and discipline of the Napoleonic code. Successful students were awarded the Baccalauréat and subjects increased to include languages and Natural Sciences. The school then developed a two-year 'post baccalaureate' curriculum that enabled entry to the Grandes écoles.

In 1873, the Lycée was renamed 'Lycée Pierre-Corneille' in honour of the alumnus, the 17th century writer and academic, Pierre Corneille. At this time the petit lycée was added for younger pupils. In 1890 the sports club Les Francs Joueurs was founded.[2]

Since 1918 the school has run a Norwegian 'college' that houses typically twenty-four boys for three years each.[2]

During World War I it served as a military hospital. In World War II it was commandeered by the German army, and was then bombed in September 1942 and on April 19, 1944.[2]

Today it educates students in preparation for university and Grandes écoles.[5]