Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris

Métro: Porte d'Orléans (Line 4)
RER B: Cité Universitaire
Address: 61 boulevard Jourdan, 75014 Paris
Website: http://www.ciup.fr/

I have to say that from time to time, there is someone in the French Government with a bright idea. (I can say that because I am French and American) well, at least someone did in1920. It was André Honnorat, former Ministre de l'Instruction Publique (Minister in charge of the Education reforms). In a post WWI Europe, he thought it would be a good idea to start an International Student Housing Project in an effort to bring peace among nations. And more than that, he got each complex to be sponsored and financed by rich industrials. Genius! 

Mind you though, every country gets its own style of Housing complex. So you'll find everything but French architecture. Yep it's Campus Housing! It's cool, huh? I know mine did not look anything like that either. Lucky them! You don't need a passport anymore to enjoy all the different styles and cultures of the World. Best time to go though is in the summer because it's quiet since there is no school. You get to feel young again walking on campus (yep it's a 2 digits number since I was a Freshman).

My personal favorites:

• Foundation Deutsch de la Meurthe (which was the first one to be build and was named after its sponsor)
• House of South-East Asia
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• Foundation Rosa Abreu de Grancher
• House of Brazil (designed by LeCorbusier)
• House of Japon
• House of Marocco
• House of Sweden
• House of Spain

By WWII, 19 housing complexes were up and in use. In their center, dominating the scene by its grandeur, the International House (above) was partially funded by the Rockefeller. After the war, construction continued and 17 new houses were built between 1948 and 1969. 5 600 students reside on the International Student Housing Campus with more than 140 different nationalities (2009). More than 200 000 students stayed there in the last 80 years. I say yeah to diversity! I can tell you that as you walk by, it sure smells good under the windows of the kitchen.

Now I have not been inside the buildings, I did not know if I was allowed to go in or not, so maybe it's really lame inside but as far as outside is concerned, I had a blast and took soooo many pictures. It was tough to make a selection. So enjoy, and if you're dead, cross the street and enjoy the lawn of the Park Montsouris for a quick nap!