The first tower appears along our route in Calais, and the second in Amiens, famous for its gothic cathedral founded in 1220. Historically, the city of Amiens was a major trade route and wool manufacturer that gained much of its wealth from Woad, a blue dye extracted from the isatis tinctoria flower.

The next day we arrived in the city of Beauvais. Sent to a Jesuit College in Beauvais and disliked by the municipalities and universities, the young Charles Patin discussed his thesis in philosophy and would later become of professor in Padua. His public support of women’s education proved futile, as his own daughter was refused entrance into university.

After crossing a network of paths through the elegantly tree-lined streets of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, we arrive at the Basilica of Saint-Denis. It is from this northern suburb that we will reach Paris.  Passing through affluent areas we reached City Island (Île de la Cité) and the Sorbonne.

In Paris, those who travel with careful consideration may find hidden traces of the medieval University of Paris, commonly known as the Sorbonne. In the 12th century, the College of the Eighteen (Collège des Dix-Huit) hosted 18 student fellows in dormitories called the hostel of God (hôtel-Dieu). Place Marcelin-Berthot on Rue du Fouarre saw professors who were intent on sharing their knowledge of medicine with students of the Collège Petite Marche. According to legend, the street takes in name from the straw cushions used by students, in fact, it is here that young Pietro d’Abano studied in 1295.

The history of the Sorbonne includes those of Padua.  Zambonino da Gazzo brought Galen’s understanding of anatomy to Padua. While the educator Guglielmo Corvi became the Pope’s chief physician and canon of Paris while the Polish Witelo learned to doubt extraordinary facts contrary to reason. Such was the prestige of Paris that Ubertino da Carrara, Lord of Padua, funded and sent twelve young students from Padua to study in Paris.

Humanities studies undertaken in Italy held notable importance in the French academic renaissance. At the Collège de Montaigu, where Erasmus had not held back criticism and the Italian humanists were designated to teach grammar. There was no lack of resistance and traditionalism, later, the medical theories taught in Paris remained faithful to Galen’s teachings, while Andrea Vesalio drew impatient. When Vesalio left Paris for Padua, the Italian university city soon grew to be an important academic destination made evident with the arrival of Michel de L’Hôspital.

As they leave Paris from the Banks of the Seine, cycling towards the city of Chartres, those along the journey pass the French gothic church of the Chartres Cathedral where the School of Chartres hosted great scholars during the high middle ages. As they continue between Normandy and Centre-Val de Loire along the Eure River, they finally reach the community of Bonneval.

In Paris, the ceremony was held at the Centre Panthéon. In addition to the Unipd “scholares”, the pro-rector with responsibility for the Right to Education, Prof. Matilde Girolami, represented the University of Padua; Prof. Fabienne Peraldi -Leneuf, vice-president chargée de l’Europe, represented the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.

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