The lycée Claude-Bernard is a French public school opened in 1938, both a collège and a lycée. It is located at 1, avenue du Parc-des-Princes in Paris, in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, and bears the name of French doctor Claude Bernard (1813–1878). History At the beginning of the 1930s, a programme was launched for the south of the 16th arrondissement to build a new lycée for boys, and also a new one for girls (the latter being the Lycée La Fontaine (Paris)). The lycée Claude-Bernard was originally conceived for 1200 students in 50 classes. 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. 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 soldiers undertook military exercises in close proximity, in Parc des Princes. A bunker was also built in the basement of the lycée, containing an infirmary; it now serves as the school's archives. 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. A commemorative plaque in the hall of the lycée recalls the memory of eight Jewish students deported and another of the 23 students and teachers who gave their lives for France. In October 1946, an annex to the lycée opened, the pilot school of Enghien-les-Bains, which became the lycée Gustave-Monod and notably taught Lucie Aubrac. Architecture Location The lycée is situated on grounds surrounded by avenue du Parc-des-Princes, rue Lecomte-Du-Nouÿ, boulevard Murat and rue de l'Arioste. The site is served by Métro station Porte de Saint-Cloud. General Architecture The architect was Gustave Umbdenstock. 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