Main core of the Old Polytechnic School or Former Nobles' College.

Category: Civil Architecture > College

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > São Mamede

History

- The Colégio dos Nobres (College of Nobles) was founded in 1761 in Lisbon, intended for the education of young aristocrats between the ages of 7 and 13.

- It was created by Prime Minister Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo after the expulsion of the Society of Jesus.

- Classes began in 1766, with the presence of the royal family, promoting science, literature, and the arts.

Objectives and Teaching

- The College aimed to prepare young people for administrative positions, combining training in the humanities and exact sciences, such as Mathematics and Physics.

- The school had an experimental focus on science, with a Physics Cabinet considered one of the best in Europe at the time.

- Students were required to pay an annual fee, and the number of students was limited to 100.

Important Developments

- In 1837, the College was dissolved due to political changes and a lack of student interest.

- Its facilities were transformed into the Polytechnic School of Lisbon, which became the current Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon.

- The Polytechnic School focused on training officers for the Army and Navy, following the French model of the École Polytechnique.

Architecture and Location

- The main core of the College is located on Rua da Escola Politécnica, now part of the University of Lisbon.

- The building has been used over the years by various educational institutions and currently houses the National Museum of Natural History and Science.