THE MILITARY NATIONAL PRYTANUM

This former Jesuit college was created by Henri IV in 1603. He became national military Prytanée only under Napoleon I. Today, the institution provides second degree education and preparation for entry competitions to major Military schools. In the tradition of the Jesuit schools, schools of excellence, it welcomed and allocated a large number of famous men: Descartes, Talleyrand, but also Abbot Prévost - author of Manon Lescaut - Claude Chappe - telegraph author. Closer to us, Jean-Claude Brialy made his first weapons… school, of course, as well as the spationaute Patrick Dutour. Its architectural and historical heritage deserves a visit, with its elegant French garden spread over 13 ha. The library is in the shape of a long vaulted vessel with 30 000 volumes: the oldest is a incunable, the City of God of Saint Augustine, dating back to 1470! The portal of honor, and above all the church Saint-Louis, is the most beautiful jewel of the place: The Baroque church has a wonderful light. It always retains a few remains, burned to the Revolution, the hearts of Henri IV and Marie de Médicis. Finally, you can visit the physics firm and its instruments.