In 1834 the city council of Cholet decided to build a new college on Devau Street. It was in the fall of 1836 that for the first time Choletais schoolchildren settled in this new building. 187 years later, this building is still standing and today we offer you a visit, free or guided, of Colbert College where important events have left traces in the college: memorial in the courtyard of honour, commemorative plaques, old photos. During the 14-18 war, the first floor of the college was requisitioned as a temporary hospital where soldiers were welcomed. In 1922, a memorial was erected in the courtyard of the college, in honour of our former students killed during the conflict. The Second World War also marked history. Robert Labare, Principal of the college in office, was killed on the front of the Saar on September 15, 1939 at the age of 42. Francis Picard and Pierre Baum, two former Jewish high school students, were arrested and died in deportation. As part of the memory and transmission assignment, students from the college made a short film about Francis Picard, arrested in January 1944 in the college classroom. Saturday, September 16, 2023, from 2pm to 5pm, students and staff of the college will have the pleasure of welcoming you to share the history and heritage of our college.