The 2024 Heritage Days give us the opportunity to visit places that are usually closed to the public, such as ministries, backstage at major theaters... Or France's iconic grandes écoles! And theÉcole Polytechnique is one of them. "L'X "is opening its doors on Saturday September 21 and Sunday September 22, to let us discover its heritage and history, a legacy of the French Revolution and the Age of Enlightenment.
Founded in Palaiseau in 1794 as the "École centrale des travaux publics" to address the shortage of engineers and senior managers in France, theÉcole polytechnique has trained many engineers and military personnel over more than 220 years. Famous graduates include Henri Poincaré (mathematician), Henri Becquerel (physicist), Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, Jean Tirole (economist) and André Citroën (industrialist).
Since 2018, MUS' X has presented the collections of scientific instruments acquired by the École Polytechnique since its creation in 1794. These include the first two devices to measure the speed of light, one of the first X-ray machines, the first electrical machines, and the first airplane speedometer. Some of the instruments are listed as historical monuments! You can discover all these treasures during the Heritage Days weekend.
The École polytechnique, where students live: a tour of the central hall (lecture halls, classrooms, etc.) and the campus. You will be guided by students.
The tour lasts 1 hour.
Each tour starts at the following times: 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m.
Last tour at 5:00 p.m.
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*Meet at the Ecole polytechnique reception desk
Visitor parking: avenue Descartes, Palaiseau,
then walk to place Gustave Ferrié, Palaiseau.
*Pre-registration required via the registration form (online from July 2024)
https://events.polytechnique.fr/evenementiel/journee-europeenne-patrimoine
The permanent exhibition of the Ecole polytechnique museum (Mus'X): the museum presents both the history of science, with its international connections and networks, and the history of the Ecole polytechnique.
Each tour lasts 1 hour.
Tours start at 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm, 5:00 pm
Last tours depart at 5:00 pm
***************
*Meet at the Ecole polytechnique reception area
Visitor parking: avenue Descartes, Palaiseau,
then walk to place Gustave Ferrié, Palaiseau.
*Pre-registration required via the registration form (online from July 2024)
https://events.polytechnique.fr/evenementiel/journee-europeenne-patrimoine
L'École polytechnique; temporary exhibition: 200 years of thermodynamics.
What is heat? Workshop and exhibition on Sadi Carnot's founding text, published 200 years ago.
📔 Reflections on the motive power of fire and the machines needed to develop this power.
You will be guided by students and École Polytechnique staff.
The tour lasts 1 hour 30 minutes.
Each tour starts at the following times: 2:00 pm, 3:30 pm, 5:00 pm
Last tour starts at 5:00 pm.
***************
*Meet at the Ecole Polytechnique reception area
Visitor parking lot: avenue Descartes, Palaiseau,
then walk to place Gustave Ferrié, Palaiseau.
*Pre-registration required via the registration form (online from July 2024)
https://events.polytechnique.fr/evenementiel/journee-europeenne-patrimoine
Dates and Opening Time
From September 21, 2024 to September 22, 2024
Location
École Polytechnique
Route de Saclay
91120 Palaiseau
Prices
Free
Official website
www.polytechnique.edu