Collège de France

The Collège de France is a research and teaching institution in the Latin Quarter that spans several buildings with laboratories and a substantial library holding rare scientific manuscripts. The buildings sit near other historic educational institutions in this part of the city.

King Francis I founded the institution in 1530 as the Collège royal, offering instruction in Hebrew, Ancient Greek, and Mathematics outside standard university rules. This founding allowed new fields of knowledge to be taught that traditional universities rejected.

The institution maintains a tradition of free public lectures delivered by leading researchers across multiple disciplines, from humanities to sciences. Visitors can attend these sessions and sit in rooms filled with curious minds from the city.

All courses are open to the public without registration, fees, or examinations, and many lectures are available online through podcasts. It helps to check the event schedule before visiting to learn current dates and locations of sessions.

The institution appoints professors without permanent positions, making it possible to adjust teaching programs quickly to new fields of research. This flexible structure sets it apart from traditional universities that tend to hold onto established subjects.

Inception: 1530

Founders: Francis I of France

Website: https://college-de-france.fr

GPS coordinates: 48.84917,2.34556

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:43