Collège des Trente-Trois, Historical seminary in Latin Quarter, Paris, France.
Collège des Trente-Trois occupies the former hôtel d'Albiac at 34, rue de la Montagne-Sainte-Geneviève, with a second wing on the impasse des Bœufs. The street facade has a rusticated stone portal topped by a rounded pediment; the sober classical students' building on the impasse keeps its original staircase. Two neo-classical pavilions in the courtyard were added under the Directoire.
Father Claude Bernard founded the college in 1633 for five poor students who had promised to become priests, a number raised to 12 for the apostles and to 33, the years of Christ's life, in 1638. After lodging in several colleges of the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, it settled in 1654 in the former hôtel d'Albiac. It became a seminary in 1657, was rebuilt from 1737 to 1748 with funding from Louis d'Orléans, and closed in 1791.
This college served as a training ground for young men from humble backgrounds who sought to enter the priesthood. The community played a role in the intellectual life of the Latin Quarter and shaped the spiritual environment around the university.
The building can be appreciated from the outside, with the entrance and courtyard visible from the street. Keep in mind that interior spaces may not be freely accessible, so it is wise to check specific conditions before visiting.
Queen Anne of Austria provided daily support to the seminary in the form of bread portions, which were later converted into annual income. This royal backing was an unusual mark of recognition for a religious educational facility of that era.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,055 contributors worldwide.