Located right in the heart of Paris, in an exceptional setting for your ceremonies: symposiums, conferences, cocktail receptions, film shoots, etc.

Presentation

True to the Sorbonne’s enduring reputation as a centre of studies and intellectual activities, the Grand Amphitheatre is the venue today for many academic and non-academic events, whether national or international.

It provides a platform for official speeches as well as being a place of thought and discussion for many foundations, organisations and private or public institutions. Numerous conferences, symposiums as well as concerts are held here all year long. During official ceremonies, degrees are given and prestigious prizes such as the Prix du Concours Général des Lycées (open to high school pupils) or the Prix de la Chancellerie des Universités de Paris are awarded.

Inaugurated on August 5, 1889, the Grand Amphitheatre has been listed as a historic building since 1975.

This prestigious room can hold nearly a thousand people. Its surface area is 2,630 square metres (27m long, 28m wide).

Around the tiers there are ten large galleries (with the gallery of honour in the middle) on two levels.

In six niches there are statues of Robert de Sorbon by Crauck, Descartes by Coutan, Lavoisier by Dalou, Rollin by Chaplain, Pascal by Barrias and Richelieu by Lanson.

In the dome there are five large monochrome medallions by Galland depicting Law, Medicine, Science, Arts and Theology, i.e. the five faculties which constituted the University of Paris in 1889.

Towering above the podium is Le Bois Sacré (“The Sacred Wood”) by Puvis de Chavannes, the most famous mounted canvas in the Sorbonne (25.6m x 4.5m), evoking the living symbols of Literature, Science and the Arts gathered around the Sorbonne.

Practical information

• 2,630 square metres
• Maximum capacity: 935 (provided the necessary technical installations are in place):
• amphitheatre and stalls: 840 seats
• 5 galleries: 95 seats

The entrance is located at 47, Rue des Ecoles – 75005 Paris. Presence on list of names and invitation card are required for entry.

Layout of the Grand Amphitheatre at the Sorbonne 

Contact: Bureau des cérémonies (Ceremonies Service) – Tel: + 33 (0) 1 40 46 20 19

Email: ceremonies.sorbonne@ac-paris