In the heart of the Latin Quarter, perched atop the Montagne Sainte‑Geneviève, stands the Lycée Henri IV, a public institution whose name today is synonymous with classical secondary education in Paris. But this site wasn't always an educational establishment: it is built on the grounds of a medieval abbey founded in the early 6th century, a heritage that still echoes in the stonework of the buildings and the layout of the spaces.
The history of this site dates back to around 506–507, when Clovis, the first Christian king of the Franks, is believed to have founded an abbey dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul, built near the tomb of Saint Genevieve, the patroness of Paris. The Sainte-Genevieve Abbey quickly grew into a major religious hub, attracting Benedictine monks who established schools, scribal workshops, and scholarly activities on the site.
Today, many features of this historic abbey are still reflected in the architecture of the high school:
Clovis Tower, a remnant of the Romanesque bell tower, with a base dating back to the Middle Ages, marking one of the oldest architectural milestones of the site.
The Cloister, whose arcades, though remodeled in the 18th century, still preserve echoes of its monastic origins.
The Chapel, originally the monks' refectory, which over centuries has been transformed into a worship space adapted to the life of the lycée.
The Génovéfains Library, an expansive baroque hall that highlights the abbey’s cultural and intellectual significance.
These spaces reveal how a medieval religious institution was gradually transformed into a hub for education, while still preserving tangible remnants of its historical roots.
During the French Revolution, religious orders were disbanded and Church property was declared “national assets”. The Abbey of Sainte‑Geneviève was then repurposed in 1796 as the École centrale du Panthéon, one of France's earliest republican educational institutions. In 1804, the establishment transformed into a lycée, initially called Lycée Napoléon, before being renamed Lycée Henri IV in 1873, in honor of the king who originally founded the abbey.
Today, the listed architectural complex recognized as a historic monument. Recent restoration efforts, including work on the canon’s wine cellar and the frescoes decorating the baroque dome of the library, have helped preserve this heritage. If you're eager to explore it, keep in mind that every year during the European Heritage Days, these historic spaces open their doors to the public, offering a chance to discover the medieval and baroque rooms that make this Parisian site so unique.
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Location
Henri IV High School
23 Rue Clovis
75005 Paris 5
