Reconstruire l’avenir à l’université de Caen : itinéraire artistique

From July 7 to August 24, 2025, an artistic itinerary retraces the reconstruction of the University of Caen after its destruction in 1944.

The rebirth of Caen University after 1944
In July 1944, the University of Caen was destroyed by fire. But in 1945, a new impetus was born: reconstruction, a symbol of hope and rebirth. The visionary architect Henry Bernard imagined a university palace designed for dialogue and the sharing of knowledge, uniting disciplines around a gallery celebrating the great figures of Normandy.

The Aula Magna, vast and luminous, opens generously onto the city, while the university library is reborn thanks to an ambitious program of acquisitions and donations from all over the world.

Designer Jacques Quinet sublimates the spaces with elegant, functional furniture, offering a perfect balance between comfort and beauty.

At the entrance to the campus, Louis Leygue?s majestic phoenix embodies the philosophy of reconstruction: knowledge as the foundation of peace and renewal.

This captivating itinerary through the years of reconstruction will shed light on emblematic figures such as Pierre Daure, Madeleine Dupasquier, Henry Bernard, Yvonne Guégan, Jacques Quinet, Louis Leygue and Charles-Émile Pinson, key figures in this exceptional renaissance.

This exhibition is the fruit of a collaboration with the University of Caen.

Curators: Louise Daguet, Gregor Blot Julienne and Mathias Courtet

Practical info
Dates : July 7 to August 24, 2025 (Monday to Sunday)

Venue: University, Henri Bernard Hall