Calvin college

The college Calvin , founded in 1559 under the name of college of Geneva , is a establishment of secondary education Canton of Geneva located at number 2 of the street Theodore-of-Bèze in the old woman-city of Geneva.

History

By adhering to the Protestant Reform, the May 21st 1536, the Genevese decides to reorganize teaching and to make it compulsory and free. Inspired by the example of the schools founded by the Brothers of the common life and by the humanistic ideal incarnated by Jean Sturm of Strasbourg and its former Master Mathurin Rope-maker, Jean Calvin sees the need for transforming the institution. It is the May 29th 1559 which are promulgated the Leges Academiae Genevensis (Order of the College of Geneva) which give to Geneva an establishment of secondary education but also a university. The college, directed by Theodore de Bèze, knows then a rapid success and reached 2000 pupils in 1566, two years after the death of Calvin, whereas Geneva yet only counts: 15000 inhabitants.

Until the 19th century, the program remains practically unchanged. The 18th century should be waited so that the studies open with the Science S. Nullement affected by the French occupation, the program knows significant changes only in the Années 1830. Thus, the foreign alive language teaching is introduced and one puts an end to the practice corporal punishments.

With the introduction of the co-education in 1969, the old college of Geneva takes the name of Calvin college and the old University of young girls that of Voltaire college.

Buildings

In January 1558, work starts under the direction of Pernet Desfosses. Two months later, work starts and, at the beginning of November, the courses begin in the western wing. The Porche of this wing shows the characteristic of a construction of Renaissance style presenting, in its warheads, a persistence of the medieval tradition. The keystones carry for their Hebrew part of the inscriptions in , Greek, French in German. The building is completely completed during the year 1559.

In 1560, the Council of the Republic decides the construction of the southern wing which is entrusted to Jehan Budé and Ami of Chasteauneuf. It concentrates all the attention because it must shelter the first classes, the residences of the Lecteur S, the apartment of the main thing and the Bibliothèque placed in the roofs. Completed in 1561, its frontage on court combines the Brique and the Pierre on the model of the architecture of the time practiced on the edges of the the Loire. The Bas-relief in Marbre which decorates this wing would be as for him due to a pupil of Jean Goujon and would undoubtedly be originating in France in comparison with the Couronne surrounded by flowers of lily placed above the weapons of Geneva.

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