Location: 1 pl Museux
Tel. 03 26 35 34 70
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 premises host the Regional Contemporary Art Fund for exhibitions in a building and works in a courtyard, the Sciences Po campus, and a heritage workshop. The planetarium occupied part of these premises; it was transferred in 2013 to new premises. Since the end of the renovation project, the entire Collège des Jésuites has been occupied by the Sciences Po Reims campus.
Nicolas Brûlart de Sillery asked Henri IV for permission for the
Jesuits to open a college in Reims. The king authorized, by letters
patent of March 25, 1606, the Jesuit fathers to found a College in
Reims. His brother François (†. 1630), who was chaplain to the king,
bought the Hôtel de Cerny on March 12, 1608 for them to settle there. He
donated 3,000 books for the development of the school.
From
October 18, 1608, the Jesuits opened their classes there. The
Humanities, Philosophy and Mathematics were taught there.
In 1610,
François Brûlart donated a farm and a priory for the maintenance of a
chair of philosophy, then in 1614 an income of 1,000 pounds for the
opening of a second chair of Philosophy.
In 1615, the Jesuits bought
the neighboring priory of Saint-Maurice for the extension of the
premises and in 1619, François Brûlart made a new donation of 6,600
pounds, which allowed it to be given its current layout: a central
chapel with a courtyard surrounded by buildings. The teaching was then
supplemented by Theology.
In May 1762, when they were banished
from France, the assets of the Jesuits were seized and the college of
Reims was reunited with those of the college of good children. In
January 1766, the general hospital took possession of the buildings,
which then served as a hospice until 1772. The Magneuses, a foundation
created by the widow of Nicolas Colbert, settled in part of the college
in 1791 to accommodate poor between the ages of 10 and 15 and give them
an education to replace the Farming of women and girls. They occupied
the college until the middle of the 20th century before it served as
accommodation for law students in 1967. The buildings were acquired by
the municipality in 1976 and housed the Planetarium of Reims, major
works from 2013 to 2015 are undertaken to adapt the premises to current
teaching.
Teaching was done according to the program of the Ratio Studiorum
of the Society of Jesus and accommodated up to 1,000 students; A
boarding school was attached to it. His teaching of grammar,
philosophy, rhetoric classes but also theater dance, music and
fencing; this development has overshadowed the University of Reims
and conflicts are appearing. The college wanted its students to be
able to pass the university diplomas, which was granted by letters
patent in 1609 but did not dispel the discord. The pedagogy of the
Jesuits was innovative for the time, in addition to classes in
Latin, class times provided for alternating teaching of arts and
sciences.
Currently, courses are still provided in Reims at the
Lycée Saint-Joseph de Reims college.
The premises have since
hosted Sciences Po's Euro-American program, then the Europe-Africa
program since the start of the 2015 academic year.
Restored, the building was fitted out to become a multi-activity place as it is today. To protect the architectural and cultural interest of this set, garden, courtyard, refectory, vestibule, kitchen, elevations, interior decor; it should be noted that the vines that have escaped phylloxera are classified as an old grape variety, Verjus; all are under legal protection: this set has been classified as a historic monument since September 2, 1933, while the 17th century staircase has been classified since December 25, 1921.
Under the roof, the library is a masterpiece of French Baroque art made between 1670-80 with a rich decor adorned with garlands, scrolls and cherubs. The coffered ceiling is decorated with medallions. Small cabinets are distributed on the sides with light from skylights. It was made at the request of two families from Reims, the Hachettes and the Rogiers. The 8000 books confiscated after the dissolution of the Order in 1764 formed the first collection of the Reims library. In the 19th century, the building was transformed into a hospice (and the library became a linen room!).
In the same wing as the library and adjoining the kitchen, it is decorated with wood paneling and paintings by Jean Hélart (1618-1685) retracing the life of Ignace de Loyola and François-Xavier.
They are the only vestiges of the Saint-Maurice priory of the Benedictines, the vaulted room from the 16th century has stoves from 1900 with taps from the First Empire.
Installed since 1990 in the wing along rue Gambetta, the FRAC
Champagne-Ardenne offers an exhibition space for the works of the
artists it promotes.
House of associations
The wing which
borders the rue du Barbâtre has been converted into a house of
associations which offers both offices that it accommodates and rooms
for practicing activities.