Commanderie Saint-Jean - École Nationale d'Administration

St. John’s Commandery (Commanderie Saint Jean): chapel, hospital and prison

A chapel was built on the site back in the Middle Ages, but was soon taken over by the Teutonic Knights, who built a monastery in its place. In the 14th century, the Order of St John of Jerusalem took possession of the buildings which then became known as St John’s Commandery.

True to their faith, the Order founded a hospital here in 1520. The trompe l’œil facade around the central gate dates back to this period. The Knights of St John moved out in the 17th century, and in 1744 the buildings were turned into a prison, and remained in use until 1988. The Commandery took on a completely fresh face when, in 1991, Strasbourg was chosen as the new home for the ENA, the French national school of administration.

The ENA in Strasbourg since 1991

The old St. John‘s Commandery was an obvious choice for housing the school, and Strasbourg-based architects Altorffer and Moretti were appointed to take charge of its renovation. Work was finished in 2003 and students, who had in the meantime been alternating between Paris and Strasbourg, were able to follow the whole of their syllabus in Strasbourg. 2011 saw the construction of a new building, designed by architects Patrick Schweitzer and associates, which features a handsome plant-covered facade and a monumental bronze sculpture, the work of Bulgarian sculptor Jivko.