Institut de France, Ile De France Travel Guide

Located on the left bank of the Seine, the Institut de France is a symbol of French intellectual and artistic excellence. Established in 1795 during the French Revolution, the Institut replaced the former Royal Academies and brought together five prestigious academies: the Académie Française, the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, the Académie des Sciences, the Académie des Beaux-Arts, and the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques. The building itself has a rich history, originally constructed as the Collège des Quatre-Nations by Cardinal Mazarin in the 17th century. The architect Louis Le Vau, also responsible for parts of the Louvre and Versailles, designed the building with its distinctive semi-circular facade and iconic dome. Napoleon moved the Institut to this location in 1805. The Académie Française, perhaps the most well-known of the five, is dedicated to safeguarding the French language. Its forty members, known as the “Immortals,” are tasked with maintaining the purity and relevance of the language. The Bibliothèque Mazarine, France's oldest public library, is also located within the Institut. Although the Palais de l'Institut de France is not generally open to the public, visitors can explore the courtyard and, under certain circumstances, visit the Bibliothèque Mazarine.