Conference Venue

Grand Salon – La Sorbonne
47, rue des Ecoles
75005 Paris – France

« La Sorbonne » was named after its founder, Robert de Sorbon, who was the chaplain and confessor of Louis IX, King of France (1214-1270). It is so closely linked to the history of the University of Paris that it has become one of its symbols. The Sorbonne University emerged from an association of teachers and students, that were initially established in the « Île de la Cité” in the 12th century. Then, they moved in what was to be called the « Quartier Latin », where theology, law, medicine, and arts were taught. In 1253, Robert de Sorbon, Master of theology, decided to found a college. The institution was primarily meant to train students with limited financial resources but soon, the Collège de Sorbon acquired a considerable reputation, which rapidly extended all over Europe. In the 17th century, the Sorbonne was rebuilt by the architect Jacques Lemercier, at the request of the Cardinal Duc de Richelieu who became its headmaster in 1622. He unites all disparate buildings and made up the college at the time. Notably, a baroque-inspired domed chapel (1635-1642) was created in the heart of the renovated Sorbonne. In 1791, the Sorbonne was closed and became an artist’s studio in 1801. Under the Restoration period, the Sorbonne was once again assigned to education by Louis XVIII, King of France.

Built in the shape of a Greek temple, the peristyle is a vast quadrangular space decorated by two majestic stairs representing Arts and Sciences. The wrought iron and bronzes railings are adorned with the coats of arms of France cities housing universities in 1889. The large stained-glass window covering the peristyle is decorated with the coat of arms of the Academy of Paris. A statue of Léon Delhomme (1841-1895) illustrates the Republic, with a beehive, a pile of books and a cornucopia, symbols of knowledge and education.

A large set of mural paintings, which symbolize the history of letters and the history of science, were realized by the artists François Flameng (1856-1923) and Théobald Chatran (1849-1907). One enters the Grand Salon through the peristyle. This was the former Academic Council room. The remarkable coffered ceiling is decorated with the coats of arms of the cities of France which had a high school in 1885. Richly decorated, two paintings by Benjamin Constant (1845-1902) can be admired. Under normal conditions, the Grand Salon can accommodate up to 200 guests.

From Roissy – Charles De Gaulle Airport: RER B, direction « Saint-Remy les Chevreuses » or « Robinson ». Get off at the station « Saint-Michel – Notre Dame ». You are at 250 m from La Sorbonne, through boulevard Saint-Michel. Entry at n°47, rue des Ecoles.

From Orly Airport: Metro Orlyval to the RER B station « Robinson ». Then, take RER B, direction « Roissy – Charles de Gaulle Airport ». Get off at the station « Saint-Michel – Notre Dame ». You are at 250 m from La Sorbonne, through boulevard Saint-Michel. Entry from n°47, rue des Ecoles.

From Gare de Lyon: Metro Line 14 direction « Saint-Ouen ». Get off at the station Châtelet. Then, take RER B, direction « Saint-Remy les Chevreuses » or « Robinson ». Get off at the next station « Saint-Michel – Notre Dame ». You are at 250 m from La Sorbonne, through boulevard Saint-Michel. Entry from n°47, rue des Ecoles.

From Gare du Nord: RER B, direction « Saint-Remy les Chevreuses » or « Robinson ». Get off at the station « Saint-Michel – Notre Dame ». You are at 250 m from La Sorbonne, through boulevard Saint-Michel. Entry from n°47, rue des Ecoles.

From Gare d’Austerlitz: Metro Line 10, direction « Boulogne – Pont de Saint-Cloud ». Get off at the station « Cluny – La Sorbonne ». You are at 100 m from La Sorbonne, through boulevard Saint-Michel. Entry from n°47, rue des Ecoles.

From Gare de l’Est: Two possibilities:

1. Metro Line 5 to Gare du Nord (direction « Bobigny – Pablo Picasso »). Then, take RER B, direction « Saint-Remy les Chevreuses » or « Robinson ». Get off at the station « Saint-Michel – Notre Dame ». You are at 250 m from La Sorbonne, through boulevard Saint-Michel. Entry from n°47, rue des Ecoles.
2. Metro Line 5 to « Gare d’Austerlitz ». Then, metro Line 10, direction Boulogne – Pont de Saint-Cloud. Get off at the station « Cluny – La Sorbonne ». You are at 100 m from La Sorbonne, through boulevard Saint-Michel. Entry from n°47, rue des Ecoles.

From Gare Montparnasse: At the station « Montparnasse – Bienvenüe », take the metro line 12 to the station « Sèvres – Babylone » (direction « Aubervilliers – Front Populaire »). Then, take the metro line 10 and get off at the station « Cluny – La Sorbonne » (direction « Gare d’Austerlitz »). You are at 100 m from La Sorbonne, through boulevard Saint-Michel. Entry from n°47, rue des Ecoles.

Alternatively, you can use the bus:

• From Gare de l’Est : bus 38 (direction Porte d’Orleans). Get off at the stop « Les écoles » . You are at 100 m from the Sorbonne’s entry (47, rue des Ecoles).