The Sorbonne's international reputation has always placed it among Europe's most important universities. It is a vital part of a long university tradition.

Robert de Sorbon founded a college in 1253 for theology students without money. The pope approved of the idea, and it later became the University of Paris.

Cardinal Richelieu was elected president of the Sorbonne in August 1622 and decided to rebuild it all. He gave the work to Jacques Le Mercier and the first stone was laid on March 28, 1627. The Sorbonne Church was begun in 1635, and is the home of Richelieu's tomb, and Girardon's sculpture of the Cardinal. The chapel is the only building still standing from this era. The Sorbonne was rebuilt again by Nenot in 1883 in order to provide more room for the increasing demands of students. Amphitheaters, test rooms, labs, a library with over 2 million works, and an observatory were all built for the growing student body. La Sorbonne view from the sky. The left side of the chapel acts as an edge of the big courtyard of the Sorbonne. It is flanked by a portico formed by ten Corinthian columns between which opens the big door. Staircase of honour Hall The room of Authorities at the back of the big amphitheatre. It is here that they meet before big official ceremonies. The stands of the first floor of the big amphitheatre are separated by statues representing important personalities. Here on the first plan, Lavoisier, then Descartes, and Robert de Sorbon; The big amphitheatre inaugurated in 1889 is decorated with this huge fresco, "Sacred Wood", painted by Pierre Puvis de Chavannes. Around a " secular virgin " representing the Sorbonne, a multitude of figures, allegories of taught disciplines, liven up the canvas. Painting representing the delivery of the Charter of the Sorbonne to Robert de Sorbon in 1254, a french theologian and founder of the Sorbonne University in Paris. The University was however created only in 1257, intended to teach theology to twenty poor students. The represented King is King Saint Louis. Now, you know where the name Sorbonne comes from! The dome The dome of the Sorbonne is encircled by four medaillons painted by François Flameng at the end of the XIXth century. They represent the universities of Paris: Letters, Sciences, laws and Medicine In 1250, the University of Abélard left the Island of the City (Ile de la Cité) for the Butte Sainte-Geneviève where it created its own schooling. But the Church ruled that they speak only Latin, whereby the name of Latin Quarter. So now, you know where the name Latin Quarter comes from!