Ancienne École Polytechnique, Engineering education site in Latin Quarter, Paris, France
The Ancienne École Polytechnique is a historic building on Rue Descartes in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, constructed with classical architecture. Behind it lies a ministry garden, and the facade displays a fountain from the 19th century dedicated to Saint Genevieve with decorative bronze elements.
The school was founded in 1794 during the French Revolution and moved to its present location in 1805 as part of Napoleon's military reforms. This transformation made it one of Europe's leading technical education institutions.
The building carries names and symbols that recall its role as a military school, with crossed cannons visible on its coat of arms throughout. These marks continue to shape the place's identity and how people recognize it today.
The ministry garden behind the building opens to visitors on weekends and offers a green escape in the busy Latin Quarter. It is worth checking opening times beforehand, as they may vary seasonally.
The school earned the nickname 'X' in the 19th century from the symbol of crossed cannons, which remains its identifying mark to this day. This nickname has become so deeply rooted that graduates proudly claim their affiliation to 'X'.
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