The Cité internationale universitaire de Paris is a green and spacious area in the south of the city, a campus that feels like a small world of its own. After the First World War, it was founded as a place where students from all countries could live and study together in a spirit of peace.
What makes this place special are the pavilions: more than forty buildings, each reflecting the architecture and culture of a different country. You’ll find the sleek Swiss pavilion by Le Corbusier, the brick Dutch house by Dudok, and even a Chinese pavilion reminiscent of traditional tulou houses. Over the years, the Cité has experienced a turbulent history.
During the Second World War, the grounds were occupied, but later restored and further expanded. Today, thousands of students from around the world live and study here, among parks, libraries and theaters. It’s a place where languages and cultures meet – a living symbol of international exchange and friendship.
Sources. Story: Source Story: ['Cité internationale universitaire de Paris – Wikipedia (FR) – https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cit%C3%A9_internationale_universitaire_de_Paris', 'Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris – CIUP Official Site – https://www.ciup.fr/en/', 'Hidden Paris: Cité Internationale Universitaire – https://www.lilianlau.com/2013/04/hidden-paris-cite-internationale-universitaire-de-paris/', 'Architecture of the CIUP – El País – https://elpais.com/elviajero/escapadas/europa/2025-07-21/un-rincon-parisino-para-amantes-de-la-arquitectura-en-la-ciudad-internacional-universitaria-de-paris.html'] Photos: Source Photo: Vinicius Pinheiro, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
