Ancienne École Polytechnique, Engineering education site in Latin Quarter, Paris, France
The former École Polytechnique building stands on Rue Descartes, featuring classical architecture with two crossed cannons on its coat of arms.
Founded in 1794 during the French Revolution, this institution moved to these premises in 1805 under Napoleon Bonaparte's military reorganization.
The building includes the Sainte Geneviève fountain from 1864, decorated with bronze lion heads and Paris city coat of arms.
The ministry garden, extending over 6,085 square meters behind the building, opens to visitors during weekends.
The institution earned the nickname 'X' in the 19th century due to the crossed cannons symbol, which remains its identifying mark.
Location: 5th arrondissement of Paris
GPS coordinates: 48.84731,2.34872
Latest update: March 13, 2025 13:38
The Quartier Latin combines Roman ruins, medieval churches, and historic universities. The Arènes de Lutèce displays Roman origins, while the Sorbonne and Collège de France represent academic tradition. Between old libraries and botanical gardens, narrow streets lead to hidden squares and traditional cafés.
Panthéon
228 m
Saint-Étienne-du-Mont
124 m
Église Saint-Éphrem-le-Syriaque
130 m
Bibliothèque littéraire Jacques-Doucet
167 m
Square Paul-Langevin
125 m
Jardin Carré
61 m
Collège des Trente-Trois
112 m
Fontaine Sainte-Geneviève
16 m
Square de la Mutualité
206 m
Presbytère de l'église Saint-Étienne-du-Mont
107 m
Imprimerie royale de Musique
129 m
PA_03 hôtel du commerce
176 m
Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève
213 m
PA_04
174 m
Ancienne école polytechnique
104 m
Reading room of the Sainte-Geneviève Library
212 m
Scots College (Paris)
212 m
François Villon
106 m
Bibliothèque byzantine
194 m
La Convention nationale
216 m
18 rue Laplace, Paris
115 m
14 rue Saint-Victor, Paris
213 m
Enceinte of Philippe-Auguste
184 m
16 rue Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, Paris
79 m
51 rue de la Montagne-Sainte-Geneviève, Paris
99 m
Enceinte of Philippe-Auguste
198 m
Collège Fortet
156 m
Immeuble Le Couteur
219 mReviews
Visited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
Discover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes