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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

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