The prestigious campus of the Cité Universitaire Internationale in Paris is a gateway to the City of Lights for students from around the world. It's made up of a patchwork of international residences – including the Hellenic Foundation, a little slice of Greek history in the French capital. Our reporters take us on a guided tour.
The Hellenic Foundation is not only a hall of residence for a select group of students, but it's also a hub for art, culture and the Greek way of life – with concerts, exhibitions and conferences covering every aspect of Greek society.
The Cité Universitaire Internationale was founded in 1925 to promote peace and understanding between different nations in the wake of the carnage of World War I. It also aimed to boost the prestige of French universities around the world, attracting top international students to its tree-lined campus.
The Hellenic Foundation opened there in 1931, symbolising the deep ties of friendship and intellectual kinship between France and Greece. It offers a home to Greek and international students as well as being a haven for Greek expats. The Foundation hosted students opposed to the military dictatorship in the 1970s, something that still resonates today with current residents.
The Foundation itself has recently been renovated, with the facelift shining the spotlight on its unique architectural mix of neo-classicism and art nouveau. Our reporters Isabelle Romero and Luke Brown take us on a guided tour.
