Athénée de Luxembourg
Encyclopedia
The Athénée de Luxembourg (Luxembourg Athenaeum), is a high school
in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg
. It's commonly called Stater Kolléisch or De Kolléisch, and is the nation's oldest high school.
, in the Ville Haute
quarter. After the French Revolution
and the political turmoil that followed, the school was reorganized and renamed in 1817 as the public 'Athénée Royal'.
After the Second World War, the premises became too small, and the school was relocated in 1963 to Hollerich
quarter, in the south-west of the city. Since the Athénée moved to this location, other schools have moved to the site as well, creating Campus Geesseknäppchen
, just to the north of the terminus of the A4
motorway. The old site of the city Athenaeum currently hosts the National Library.
In 2003, the school celebrated its 400th anniversary with a series of events and the publication of a four-volume study of the school's rich history. The school's official motto is 'Tradition & Innovation', a phrase that the reflects the institution's continuous emphasis on scholarly excellence, the respect of humanist traditions and the desire to stay innovative.
Since 2007, Joseph Salentiny is the principal of the 'Athénée de Luxembourg'.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. It's commonly called Stater Kolléisch or De Kolléisch, and is the nation's oldest high school.
Brief history
The school was originally founded by the Jesuit Order, and was located next to the Notre Dame CathedralNotre-Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg
Notre-Dame Cathedral is the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It was originally a Jesuit church, and its cornerstone was laid in 1613....
, in the Ville Haute
Ville Haute
Ville Haute is a quarter in central Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg.In 2001, the quarter had a population of 2,686 people.It is the historical center of Luxembourg City and is involved in its UNESCO World Heritage Site status....
quarter. After the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
and the political turmoil that followed, the school was reorganized and renamed in 1817 as the public 'Athénée Royal'.
After the Second World War, the premises became too small, and the school was relocated in 1963 to Hollerich
Hollerich
Hollerich is a quarter in south-western Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg.In 2001, the quarter had a population of 5,569 people.Hollerich railway station is located on Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois Line 70, which connects Luxembourg City to the south-west of the country...
quarter, in the south-west of the city. Since the Athénée moved to this location, other schools have moved to the site as well, creating Campus Geesseknäppchen
Campus Geesseknäppchen
Campus Geesseknäppchen is a campus in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg, that is shared by a number of academic institutions. It is located in the south-west of the city, just to the north of the terminus of the A4 motorway. It is predominantly in the quarter of Hollerich, although the...
, just to the north of the terminus of the A4
A4 road (Luxembourg)
The Autoroute 4, abbreviated to A4 or otherwise known as the Esch-sur-Alzette motorway , is a motorway in southern Luxembourg. It is long and connects Luxembourg City to Esch-sur-Alzette.The A4 was opened in six separate sections:...
motorway. The old site of the city Athenaeum currently hosts the National Library.
In 2003, the school celebrated its 400th anniversary with a series of events and the publication of a four-volume study of the school's rich history. The school's official motto is 'Tradition & Innovation', a phrase that the reflects the institution's continuous emphasis on scholarly excellence, the respect of humanist traditions and the desire to stay innovative.
Since 2007, Joseph Salentiny is the principal of the 'Athénée de Luxembourg'.
Famous alumni
Some of the school's alumni include:- Jean AsselbornJean AsselbornJean Asselborn is a Luxembourger politician. Since 31 July 2004, he has been the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration in the government led by Jean-Claude Juncker....
, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration. - Robert BrasseurRobert BrasseurRobert Brasseur was a Luxembourgian politician, jurist, and journalist.Brasseur was educated at the Athénée de Luxembourg, before studying law at University of Strasbourg and in Paris. While in Paris, he became a bibliophile, starting a library to which he would continue to contribute over the...
, founding member of the Liberal LeagueLiberal League (Luxembourg)The Liberal League was a political party in Luxembourg between 1904 and 1925. It was the indirect predecessor of the Democratic Party , which has been one of the three major parties in Luxembourg since the Second World War....
. - Xavier BrasseurXavier BrasseurFrançois Xavier Brasseur was a Luxembourgian politician and jurist.Brasseur was educated at the Athénée de Luxembourg, graduating in 1884. Afterwards, he studied law, graduating on 17 June 1890, and began practising in 1894. He worked for his uncle Alexis's steelworks as legal counsel...
, founding member of the Socialist Party. - Paul EyschenPaul EyschenPaul Eyschen was a Luxembourgish politician, statesman, lawyer, and diplomat. He was the eighth Prime Minister of Luxembourg, serving for twenty-seven years, from 22 September 1888 until his death, on 11 October 1915....
, Prime Minister of Luxembourg. - Luc FriedenLuc FriedenLuc Frieden is a Luxembourgian politician for the Christian Social People's Party . He was Minister for Justice and Minister for the Treasury and Budget from 1998 to 2009, and has been Minister for Finances since 23 July 2009.In the capacity of Minister for the Treasury and Budget, Frieden was...
, Luxembourgian Minister of Justice. - Pierre Frieden, Prime Minister of Luxembourg.
- Eugène JungersEugène JungersEugène Jacques Pierre Louis Jungers was Governor-General of the League of Nations Mandate of Ruanda-Urundi from 1932 to 1946, and of the Belgian Congo from 1946 to 1951.- Early life :...
, administrator of the Belgian CongoBelgian CongoThe Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
. - Anne KremerAnne KremerAnne Kremer is a professional female tennis player from Luxembourg. Her highest WTA Ranking has been World No...
, tennis player. - Émile Reuter, Prime Minister of Luxembourg.
- Robert SchumanRobert SchumanRobert Schuman was a noted Luxembourgish-born French statesman. Schuman was a Christian Democrat and an independent political thinker and activist...
, Prime Minister of FrancePrime Minister of FranceThe Prime Minister of France in the Fifth Republic is the head of government and of the Council of Ministers of France. The head of state is the President of the French Republic...
and founding father of the European UnionEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. - Emmanuel ServaisEmmanuel ServaisLambert Joseph Emmanuel Servais was a Luxembourgian politician. He held numerous offices of national importance, foremost amongst which was in serving as the fifth Prime Minister of Luxembourg, for seven years, from 3 December 1867 until 26 December 1874.After being Prime Minister, he was a...
, Prime Minister of Luxembourg. - Antoine WehenkelAntoine WehenkelAntoine Wehenkel was a Luxembourgian politician and engineer. He was a member of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party , of which he was President ....
, politician. - Nik WelterNik WelterNikolaus “Nik” Welter was a Luxembourgish writer, playwright, poet, professor, literary critic , and statesman. He wrote predominantly in German...
, author and minister of education.
Literature
- 400 Joer Kolléisch (éditions saint-paul, 2003) (a comprehensive history in four volumes, written in French).
- Vol. I : Du Collège des Jésuites au Collège Municipal 1603-1815 (287 pp.)
- Vol. II : L'Athénée et ses grands Anciens 1815-1993. (477 pp.)
- Vol. III: L'Athénée aujourd'hui et demain. (269 pp.)
- Vol. IV : Hommage à l'Athénée. (314 pp.)
- Diederich, Paul: Athenäum 1932 - 1946, Wohnort und Schule (Association des Anciens de l'Athénée, 2001).
- Métamorphoses de l'Athénée, 1603 - 1989 (Luxembourg, 1989).