Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales, Language research institution in 13th arrondissement, France
The Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales is a university in Paris dedicated to studying and teaching languages and civilizations from around the world. It operates through multiple buildings near the Seine with classrooms, libraries, and research facilities spread across the campus.
The institution was founded in 1669 by Jean-Baptiste Colbert as a school for teaching languages to diplomats and traders. It underwent several transformations and name changes before adopting its current identity in 1971.
The institute hosts regular exhibitions, lectures, and performances celebrating the languages and cultures it studies. Visitors can experience this diversity through events open to the public throughout the year.
The campus is accessible by public transportation and located near the Seine in the 13th arrondissement. Visitors can explore publicly available areas, but should check ahead for guided tours or events that are open to the general public.
The university operates its own publishing house called Les Presses de l'Inalco, which produces academic works on Eastern languages and cultures. These publications are often the only scholarly resources available in some of the world's lesser-studied languages.
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