Grasse Campus, Phase II – Expansion of the Campus in the Heart of the City
An ambitious project for the development of higher education.
As part of its strategy for the Development of Higher Education and Research, the Pays de Grasse Urban Community (CAPG) is building on its momentum by launching Phase 2 of Grasse Campus. This project embodies the commitment to revitalize the historic center of Grasse by infusing it with the energy of youth and restoring heritage buildings.
The site of the former Courthouse, inaugurated on February 6, 2023, forms the heart of the Regional Campus. Located at 18 rue de l’Ancien Palais de Justice, this space welcomes students, faculty, and the CAPG’s department dedicated to the development of higher education and research (DESR).
The expansion: a new facility to meet growing demand.
In response to increased demand and the growth potential of higher education, on April 6, 2023, the CAPG Community Council approved the expansion of the campus into the premises of the former gendarmerie at 16 rue de l’Ancien Palais de Justice. This new space consists of two buildings:
- A three-story main building: 848 m² of usable floor space
- A two-story annex: 276 m² of usable floor space
Grasse Campus is part of an ambitious vision: to make Grasse a center of excellence for higher education and research, by enhancing the region’s appeal and contributing to the vitality of the city center.
Explore the building
The former courthouse and gendarmerie barracks
A reimagined heritage site
In the 1830s, the prefect of the Var expressed a desire to provide each district seat—Toulon, Draguignan, Brignoles, and Grasse—with an architectural complex comprising a courthouse, a jail, and a gendarmerie barracks. To fulfill this vision, architect Esprit Lantion proposed a project comprising three buildings, a landscaped plaza, ramps, and a circular square.
Work began in 1839 with earthwork. Construction of the three buildings followed in 1841, and the project was completed in 1845 with the official acceptance of the buildings.
Between 1957 and 1962, the gendarmerie barracks underwent an expansion to add additional stories. A few years later, in 1963 and 1964, it was the courthouse’s turn to be raised. However, over time, a new courthouse was built between 1993 and 1999 to meet modern needs.
In 2005, the historic buildings became home to municipal services. Finally, between 2020 and 2023, a major renovation was carried out to create the Grasse Campus – Act I, thereby reaffirming the importance of this historic site to the city’s development and appeal.
