The Collège de France is a higher education teaching and research establishment located in France.
It was created in 1530 at the request of King Francis I of France. Of humanist inspiration, this school was established as an alternative to the Sorbonne to promote such disciplines as Hebrew language, Ancient Greek and Mathematics. Initially called Collège Royal, and later Collège des trois langues (Latin: Collegium Trilingue), Collège national, Collège Impérial, it was named Collège de France in 1870. It is located in the 5th arrondissement of Paris.
What makes it unique is that attendance is free and open to anyone, even though some high level courses are out_of_reach for the general public. The school's goal is to "teach science in the making" and therefore the professors are chosen among the foremost researchers of the day, with no requisite other than being at the top of their field, in a variety of disciplines, both in science and the humanities. Even though the motto of the Collège is "Docet Omnia," Latin for "Teach everything," its goal can be best summed up by Maurice Merleau-Ponty's phrase: "Not preconceived notions, but the idea of free thought" which is burned in golden letters above the main hall of the Collège building.
The Collège de France was founded in the interest of higher education by Francis I.
The Collège de France was first ruled by the Grand Aumônier de France, who appointed the professors until 1661, when it became a part of the University of Paris, from which it was afterwards separated for a time, and finally reaffiliated in 1766.
The college has been known by different names: in 1534 it was called the "College of the Three Languages"; under Louis XIII, the "Collège Royal"; during the Revolution, the "Collège National"; Napoleon called it the "Collège Impérial", and under the Restoration, it bore the name of "Collège Royal".
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