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The former Jesuit college is a 16th century building located in Reims in the French department of Marne. Founded in 1608 by Jesuits, the college was closed in 1762 when the Jesuits were banished from the kingdom of France. The buildings were used for other educational projects during the 19th century. Since 1976, they have belonged to the city of Reims, which brings together regional, international and local organizations. Its library and its refectory are monuments of Baroque art.
The Ancien Collège des Jésuites in Reims serves as a vibrant multi-purpose venue, accommodating the Regional Contemporary Art Fund (FRAC) Champagne-Ardenne, which organizes exhibitions within the main building and its picturesque courtyard. It also houses the Sciences Po Reims campus, a heritage restoration workshop, and various community activities. Previously, a portion of the site was used by the Reims Planetarium, but this was relocated to a new facility in 2013. Following extensive renovations completed between 2013 and 2015, the entire historic complex has been fully dedicated to the Sciences Po Reims campus, which now supports around 1,600 students— a significant increase from the previous capacity of about 300. These modern upgrades include a 110-seat amphitheater, two 50-seat classrooms, a 25-seat lecture hall, a dedicated study room, and staff facilities, all integrated while preserving the site's historical integrity. The campus initially hosted the Euro-American program and has since expanded to include the Europe-Africa program starting in the 2015 academic year.
The Ancient Collège des Jésuites, also known as the Jesuit College of
Reims (Collège des Jésuites de Reims), is a historic 17th-century
complex located at 1 Place Museux in Reims, France. Originally
established as an educational institution by the Society of Jesus
(Jesuits), it represents a key example of French Baroque architecture
and has served various purposes over the centuries, from a college to a
hospital, orphanage, planetarium, and now a university campus. Its
buildings, including a renowned library and refectory, are classified as
historic monuments since 1921 and 1933. The site is owned by the City of
Reims and currently houses the Reims campus of Sciences Po (Institut
d'Études Politiques de Paris), a prestigious institution for social
sciences and international studies. The planetarium, which was
integrated into the site from 1979 to 2013, added a modern scientific
dimension to its historical legacy before relocating.
Founding
and Early History (1606–1678)
The origins of the Jesuit College trace
back to 1606, when Jesuits first arrived in Reims with the aim of
establishing a college to provide free education to students, aligning
with the order's mission of intellectual and spiritual development
during the Counter-Reformation. This initiative was supported by Nicolas
Brûlart de Sillery, the Lord Chancellor of France, who petitioned King
Henri IV for permission. The king granted letters patent on March 25,
1606, allowing the foundation. François Brûlart, Nicolas's brother and
the king's chaplain, played a pivotal role by purchasing the Hôtel de
Cerny on March 12, 1608, for the Jesuits and donating 3,000 pounds to
set up the college. Classes commenced on October 18, 1608, initially
focusing on humanities, philosophy, and mathematics, with around 500
students eventually enrolled.
Expansion began in earnest from 1610
onward. François donated a farm and priory to fund a philosophy chair,
followed by an annuity of 1,000 pounds in 1614 for a second chair. In
1615, the Jesuits acquired the neighboring priory of Saint-Maurice to
enlarge the premises. A significant donation of 6,600 pounds in 1619
enabled the construction of the current layout, featuring a central
chapel surrounded by courtyard buildings. By this time, the curriculum
had expanded to include theology, medicine, and science. The grounds
emphasized Jesuit values of study, prayer, and agriculture, with
extensive vegetable plots and vine cultivation—the latter featuring a
centuries-old Palestinian grape variety (Verjus) that survived
phylloxera and is now classified as a historic monument. Construction of
the main buildings, designed by architect Narcisse Brunette in French
Baroque style, was largely completed by 1678.
The library, a
masterpiece of Baroque art, was built between 1679 and 1681 with funding
from the Hachette and Rogier families. Crafted by carpenters François
Robin and Bernard Marchet in Louis XIV style, it featured oak and
chestnut woodwork adorned with garlands, scrolls, flowers, and cherubs.
Books were organized alphabetically and thematically on 27 plates above
shelves, with a central period table and enclosed boxes for forbidden
heretical texts. Access was limited to Jesuit fathers, and an
inscription read "Dieu est le maître souverain de la science."
Operations and Peak Period (17th–18th Century)
During its operational
years, the college served as a hub for Jesuit education, embodying the
order's disciplined approach—members were often called "God's soldiers."
It taught a broad curriculum to promote the betterment of souls, in line
with Ignatius of Loyola's vision since the order's founding in 1540. The
site included practical facilities like vaulted cellars for kitchens and
toilets, beamed corridors, mullion windows, and a wooden pulpit in the
chapel flanked by stained-glass panels. Religious insignia, such as
"IHS" (the first three Greek letters of Jesus), decorated beams and
stonework. The refectory, with its wooden paneling, functioned as a
dining hall for gatherings.
Closure and Suppression (1762–1791)
The college's fate shifted in the mid-18th century amid growing
criticism of the Jesuits from monarchies and the Vatican. Banned in
Portugal in 1759, the suppression extended to France in 1762 under King
Louis XV, who dissolved the order on August 6, 1762. The Jesuits were
expelled from France in 1764, leading to the college's closure in May
1762. Their property was seized, and the institution merged with the
Collège des Bons Enfants. Approximately 8,000 books from the library
were confiscated by the City of Reims, cataloged, and relocated to the
Hôtel de Ville (later to the Carnegie library), where over 400 Jesuit
volumes remain today despite losses during the World Wars. The global
suppression culminated in 1773 under Pope Clement XIV, though the order
was restored in 1814 by Pius VII.
Post-Suppression Uses
(1766–20th Century)
From January 1766, the buildings served as a
general hospital and hospice until 1772, with the empty library storing
linen until 1975. In 1791, part of the site was occupied by the
Magneuses foundation, established by Nicolas Colbert's widow, to educate
and house poor girls aged 10–15; this continued until 1957. The
buildings also accommodated orphans and, later, elderly residents until
1976.
During World War I, much of Reims was damaged, but the college
grounds remained largely intact. The library's woodwork was dismantled
on March 4, 1918, for protection and sent to Paris, then reassembled in
1922 by architect Henri Deneux. The adjacent Church of Saint-Maurice
burned in 1942 during World War II. From 1967, law students used the
buildings temporarily. The City of Reims acquired the property in 1976.
In the 1990s, the library hosted filming for the period drama La Reine
Margot (1994), starring Isabelle Adjani, using manufactured fake books
that are still preserved. Renovations occurred between 2007 and 2008.
The Planetarium Era (1979–2013)
Adding a scientific layer to the
site's history, the Planetarium de Reims—the second oldest in France—was
installed in the historic Old Jesuit College on Place Museux in 1979,
opening to the public on March 1, 1980. Housed in a 6-meter diameter
room with 40 seats, it featured a Zeiss ZKP2 projector (later upgraded
with multimedia devices) and served educational purposes for
schoolchildren and the general public, averaging 26,000 visitors
annually and reaching its 500,000th visitor in 2003. It operated on the
campus site for over 30 years, enhancing the Jesuit legacy of scientific
education. The planetarium closed at this location on January 6, 2013,
after which it relocated to a new modern facility at 49 rue du
Général-de-Gaulle, designed by architect Jean-Paul Bonnemaisson as an
elliptical building on stilts with a glass skin, costing 3.4 million
euros. The new site features an 8-meter dome with 48 seats, a Zeiss ZKP4
projector, and advanced simulations of celestial events, including
historical skies like those during the French Revolution in 1789.
Modern Era and Sciences Po Campus (2010–Present)
Since 2010, the
site has been transformed into the Reims campus of Sciences Po, selected
for its historical heritage and potential. Major renovations from 2013
to 2015 adapted the buildings for modern academic use while preserving
historic elements. The library, renamed the Alan Seeger Library in 2017
to honor the American poet who died in World War I (inspired by his poem
"Champagne"), now holds donations including 2,000 books from Milton R.
Konvitz and 5,000 from Stanley Hoffman. It retains its Baroque charm but
includes practical modern furnishings, though some students find its
atmosphere "oppressive" or "Hogwarts-like."
Other adaptations include
a glass-covered concourse parallel to the former chapel (now an entrance
hall), classrooms off historic corridors, a modern library around an
open-air island with a tree, and an auditorium in the refectory. The
altar was relocated to a museum, and former devotion rooms serve
academic functions. Public visits to the library are occasional, but the
site blends historical traces with contemporary student life.
The educational approach at the Jesuit College adhered to the Ratio Studiorum, the foundational curriculum of the Society of Jesus established in 1599, which synthesized classical liberal arts traditions and emphasized subjects like theology, philosophy, Latin, and Greek, while promoting a structured system of schooling that influenced global education. This program supported up to 1,000 students, including those in an attached boarding school. The curriculum encompassed grammar, philosophy, and rhetoric, alongside extracurricular pursuits such as theater, dance, music, and fencing. This expansive and high-quality offering eclipsed the nearby University of Reims, leading to ongoing rivalries and disputes. The Jesuits sought recognition for their students to obtain university degrees, which was authorized by royal letters patent in 1609, though tensions persisted. Jesuit teaching methods were ahead of their time, incorporating Latin instruction with scheduled alternations between arts and sciences to foster a balanced intellectual development. In modern times, educational activities continue in Reims at the Lycée Saint-Joseph de Reims, which upholds elements of this heritage. The site has evolved to host Sciences Po's undergraduate programs, starting with the Euro-American specialization focused on transatlantic relations, and expanding to include the Europe-Africa program since the 2015 academic year, which emphasizes academic ties with Sub-Saharan Africa through partnerships with 24 universities across 11 countries and offers minors in North America or Africa in English or French tracks.
Following restoration efforts, the structure has been adapted into a versatile multi-functional space that it remains today. To safeguard its architectural and cultural value, elements including the garden, courtyard, refectory, vestibule, kitchen, facades, and interior decorations are protected. Notably, the site's vines, which survived the phylloxera epidemic that devastated European vineyards in the late 19th century, are of the ancient Verjus variety—a rare white grape—and are preserved in the Cour des Pères, representing some of the oldest vines in France. The entire complex enjoys legal safeguards as a classified historic monument since September 2, 1933, with the ornate 17th-century staircase receiving earlier protection on December 25, 1921.
Positioned beneath the roof, the library exemplifies French Baroque artistry, constructed between 1670 and 1680—specifically from 1679 to 1681 by carpenters François Robin and Bernard Marchet—with opulent embellishments such as garlands, scrolls, and cherubs. Its coffered ceiling features decorative medallions, and side cabinets are illuminated by skylights for optimal natural light. Commissioned by two prominent Reims families, the Hachettes and the Rogiers, it originally housed a collection that included portraits and religious scenes. After the Order's dissolution in 1764, the 8,000 confiscated volumes became the nucleus of the municipal Reims library. During the 19th century, when the building functioned as a hospice, the library space was repurposed as a linen storage room.
Situated in the same wing as the library and next to the kitchen, the refectory is adorned with intricate wood paneling and a series of paintings by Jean Hélart (1618-1685), which depict pivotal episodes from the lives of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and Saint Francis Xavier, the co-founders of the Jesuit order. This space highlights the Baroque style's emphasis on religious narrative and grandeur, preserved through careful restoration.
These kitchens represent the sole surviving remnants of the 16th-century Saint-Maurice priory, originally belonging to the Benedictines, which the Jesuits acquired in 1615 for expansion. The vaulted chamber features early 20th-century stoves (circa 1900) and faucets from the First Empire era, blending historical layers from medieval monastic life to later adaptations.
Established in the wing along Rue Gambetta since 1990, the FRAC Champagne-Ardenne provides dedicated exhibition areas to display and promote artworks by contemporary artists it supports. Founded in 1984 as part of France's regional contemporary art funds, it boasts a collection of nearly 700 pieces spanning from the 1960s to the present, with free public access and hours from Wednesday to Sunday, 2pm to 6pm, plus Tuesday mornings from 9am to noon.
The wing adjacent to Rue du Barbâtre has been repurposed as the Maison de la Vie Associative (MVA), a hub that provides office spaces for various groups and dedicated rooms for activities and meetings. This facility supports Reims' vibrant community life, operating Monday to Friday from 8:45am to 10:30pm and Saturdays from 8:45am to 6pm (with adjusted hours during school holidays), and serves as a central resource for local associations, including guichet unique for subsidies and event hosting.