Depliant Histoire et mission_2705_ENG_web
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1 - nave<br />
The nave is one of the largest in Europe,<br />
measuring 70 m<strong>et</strong>res long, 14 m<strong>et</strong>res wide, and<br />
around six m<strong>et</strong>res in height.<br />
Previously the monks’ living quarters, this<br />
exceptional space comprises the areas that<br />
would have originally housed the study rooms,<br />
refectory, chapter house, and kitchens.<br />
A 14 th century statue of Christ overlooks the<br />
nave. The Christ in Majesty is wearing a crown<br />
of thorns: a little-seen theme in the mediaeval<br />
statues of Paris. The statue was discovered<br />
during the building’s foundation excavations.<br />
2 - old sacristy<br />
The old sacristy is in the Prerayonnant Gothic<br />
style and was compl<strong>et</strong>ed in 1360. It is 12.5<br />
m<strong>et</strong>res long and 11 m<strong>et</strong>res both wide and high.<br />
The presence in the sacristy of the tombstone of<br />
Günter, a German monk from Thuringe who died<br />
in 1306, demonstrates the standing held by the<br />
Collège in 14 th century Europe.<br />
4 - small Auditorium<br />
The rose window at the north gable end dates<br />
from the original 13 th century Collège des<br />
Bernardins. It features a five-pointed star<br />
s<strong>et</strong> within a pentagon. The symbolism of the<br />
Pythagorean number five is unique in Cistercian<br />
iconography.<br />
An exact replica was created on the south<br />
gable end during the most recent works at the<br />
college which were compl<strong>et</strong>ed in 2008.<br />
5 - large Auditorium<br />
Four large oak tie beams dating from 1150 and<br />
the original roof have been conserved in the large<br />
auditorium. The roof and floor form an equilateral<br />
triangle whose sides measure 15 m<strong>et</strong>res each.<br />
5<br />
4<br />
1 2<br />
3<br />
3 - xVIII th century areas<br />
The original building was rebuilt in the 18 th<br />
century. A freestanding spiral staircase houses a<br />
mysterious headless statue from the beginnings<br />
of the 15 th century.<br />
Today the prior’s accommodation is used as a<br />
training and me<strong>et</strong>ing room.
the <strong>mission</strong><br />
of the collège des bernardins<br />
A place for dialogue<br />
Rooted in its rich history, the Collège des Bernardins is loyal to its original vocation by becoming a<br />
place for dialogue with soci<strong>et</strong>y, where faith and reason me<strong>et</strong> to shed light on contemporary challenges.<br />
Politicians, intellectuals, scientists and artists come to the Collège des Bernardins to exchange<br />
ideas, exhibit and debate in public.<br />
A place for learning<br />
The Collège des Bernardins is a unique place to study, wh<strong>et</strong>her on site or remotely, for a degree<br />
or simply out of curiosity in many fields : theology, philosophy, Sacred texts, Judaism, humanities,<br />
art history and literature. Since 2008, the Collège also has had a multi-disciplinary research center,<br />
working on the complex issues of our time to the highest scientific standards.<br />
A place open to all<br />
Exhibitions, guided tours, workshops for children and teenagers, lectures, online debates... the<br />
Collège des Bernardins is open to all, and brings tog<strong>et</strong>her a vari<strong>et</strong>y of audiences, online or under<br />
its thousand-year-old vaults. In the 13 th century nave, the “Table des Bernardins” restaurant and La<br />
Procure bookshop welcome students, visitors and spectators.
an inspiring<br />
heritage<br />
1248<br />
At a time when Paris was experiencing an<br />
intellectual, political, and economic boom,<br />
Étienne de Lexington, the Abbot of Clairvaux,<br />
founded the Collège des Bernardins to offer<br />
Cistercian monks the opportunity to live and<br />
study in the heart of the Latin Quarter.<br />
The reputation of the Collège quickly<br />
established itself as it welcomed monks from all<br />
over Europe for more than 500 years, becoming<br />
an important centre of western thinking.<br />
1887<br />
The Collège des Bernardins was officially<br />
classified as a historic monument.<br />
1791<br />
The Collège became a national ass<strong>et</strong> during<br />
the French Revolution. The adjoining church<br />
was largely demolished with the construction of<br />
the Rue de Pontoise (1810), and the Boulevard<br />
Saint-Germain (1859).<br />
Owned by the city of Paris, the main building<br />
would serve as a prison, storage facility,<br />
school, and fire station b<strong>et</strong>ween<br />
1845 and 1995.<br />
2001<br />
Under the instigation of Cardinal Jean-Marie<br />
Lustiger, the Archdiocese of Paris bought the<br />
college back from the city of Paris in 2001. Major<br />
works began in 2003 : 322 micropiles along<br />
25 m<strong>et</strong>res were bored to stabilise the building<br />
underground.<br />
2008<br />
After a compl<strong>et</strong>e renovation led by Hervé<br />
Baptiste, chief architect of historic monuments,<br />
and Jean-Michel Wilmotte, the Collège des<br />
Bernardins reconnected with its original<br />
vocation to become a place for research and<br />
debate b<strong>et</strong>ween the Church and soci<strong>et</strong>y. For<br />
the first time in its history, it was open to all.<br />
On 12 September, Pope Benedict XVI brought<br />
the cultural world in to question during a<br />
discourse on the need for dialogue b<strong>et</strong>ween<br />
faith and reason.
a place for dialogue<br />
open to all<br />
COURSES<br />
EXHiBITIONS<br />
CONFERENCES<br />
DEBATES<br />
CONCERTS<br />
research<br />
RESTAURANT<br />
bookshop<br />
« In a true spirit of dialogue, we<br />
grow in our ability to grasp the significance<br />
of what others say and do, even if we do not<br />
take it as our own conviction. In this way it<br />
becomes possible to be frank and open about<br />
our beliefs, while continuing to discuss, to<br />
seek points of contact, and above all to work<br />
and struggle tog<strong>et</strong>her. Public discussion, if<br />
it truly makes space for everyone and does<br />
not manipulate or conceal information, is a<br />
constant stimulus to a b<strong>et</strong>ter understanding of<br />
the truth, or at least is more effective expression.<br />
It keeps different sectors from becoming<br />
complacent and self-centred in their outlook<br />
and their limited concerns. L<strong>et</strong> us not forg<strong>et</strong><br />
that differences are creative, they create<br />
tension and that is it in resolving tensions that<br />
humanity is able to progress.»<br />
Pope Francis, Fratelli tutti,<br />
Chapter six « Dialogue and Friendship in Soci<strong>et</strong>y », §203, October 2020
LA TABLE DES BERNARDINS<br />
HAVE A COFFEE OR A LUNCH BREAK IN THE NAVE<br />
FROM 10 AM - 5 PM DURING OPENING DAYS<br />
20 rue de poissy<br />
75005 Paris<br />
monday - saturday<br />
from 10 am to 6 pm<br />
closed on sunday & holidays<br />
guided tours on wednesdays, fridays and saturdays at<br />
4 PM except during school holidays<br />
la procure bookshop<br />
Mondays and fridays : 10:30 am - 2:30 pm and<br />
3:30 am - 6:00 pm<br />
tuesdays, wednesdays and thursdays : 10:30 am - 6:00 pm<br />
follow us<br />
for further information :<br />
+33 (1) 53 10 74 44<br />
contact@collegedesbernardins.fr<br />
Photo credits : Jean-Matthieu Gautier,<br />
Vinciane Lebrun, Eléonore Bichot