A twentieth century dedicated to books

1945. During the war, the Fontaines “ Domain ” was requisitioned by the German army, which turned it into a communications center. The 52-hectare park still bears a reminder of that turbulent period: an observation bunker, which is now off-limits.

A cultural and spiritual center

In 1946, the war was over. Henri de Rothschild, owner of the Domain, put it up for sale. It was purchased by the Jesuits, a Catholic religious order, to turn it into a training center. The site hosted about 100 students as well as some 30 professors and researchers. Above all, it housed a phenomenal library, containing more than 500,000 volumes—one of the largest private libraries in Europe at the time. The site also welcomed many young people during the holidays and was open to the public, who enjoyed it as a pleasant place for a stroll.
In the 1980s, after the training center was moved to Paris, les Fontaines diversified its activities: the site became a cultural center open to the public, and numerous partnerships with the newly established University of Amiens were formed there. The center also began hosting a few corporate seminars…

Towards a new chapter

But over the years, the venue—which was ill-suited to the needs of a clientele that was largely foreign—required investments that were difficult to recoup. The Jesuit community then began to consider handing over the property. In 1998, the Capgemini Group acquired the Domain, opening a new chapter in the history of Les Fontaines. The vast library was moved to Lyon, and the renovation work could begin.