[1] Built in 1937 on a large area of open ground, and inaugurated on 16 June 1938 in the presence of Minister of National Education Jean Zay, it was originally intended as a lycée for boys based particularly on literature, sciences and arts.

[2] In Paris in World War II, between 17 June 1940 and 23 August 1944, the lycée was requisitioned and transformed into a barracks for SS troops.

The students were transferred to lycée Janson-de-Sailly and the accommodation was used by Germans from April 1942, giving compensation, but also causing theft and damage.

After the Liberation of Paris, the lycée was occupied by American soldiers of the 2nd Armored Division (France) led by Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque.

The main entrance (in forged iron, created by Maître Bouchard, member of the Institute) is located on the corner of avenue du Parc-des-Princes and rue Lecomte-Du-Nouÿ.

It opens onto a round hall (with mural decoration by Maître Ernest Denis, member of the Institute) which allows access to the central recreation courtyard (the buildings run along the road, a central access corridor allows access to the interior courtyard, while students were originally overlooking the courtyard so that they would not be distracted by outside noise on the road or sporting exercises taking place at the stadium of Parc des Princes[citation needed]), the four staircases serving the lycée and administrative buildings.