Harry Potter Wiki
Don't have an account?
Register
Register
Harry Potter Wiki
Harry Potter Wiki
20,678
pages
in: Beauxbatons, Triwizard schools
English

Changes: Beauxbatons Academy of Magic

Back to page
Sign in to edit
No edit summary
No edit summary
Tag: Visual edit
 
(306 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
  +
{{Spoiler|HM|HL}}
 
{{School infobox
  
{{School infobox
 
|bgcolor1=3E2E6F
  
|bgcolor1=3E2E6F
−
|image=[[File:Beauxbatons Crest.jpg]]
 +
|image=BeauxbatonsCrestClearBg.png
 
|name=Beauxbatons Academy of Magic
  
|name=Beauxbatons Academy of Magic
−
|bgcolor2=A0AADB
 +
|bgcolor2=A0A0DB
−
|location=Near [[Wikipedia:Cannes|Cannes]] in southern [[France]]<ref name="location">[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/1209-hpfgu-scruton.html Report on Maggie's Cancer Caring Centre reading]</ref>
 +
|location=French [[Pyrenees]], [[France]]<ref name="PM">{{WW|beauxbatons-academy-of-magic}}</ref>
  ⚫
|headmaster=*[[Headteacher of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic during 1792|1792 Headteacher]] (formerly)
−
|headmistress=[[Olympe Maxime]]
+
*[[Olympe Maxime]]
⚫
}}
  
  +
|affiliation = *[[French Ministry of Magic]]
−
'''Beauxbatons Academy of Magic''' is a [[Wizarding schools|Wizarding school]] located in the [[Palace of Beauxbatons]] near the city of [[Cannes]] in southern [[France]].<ref name="location" /> Beauxbatons's current [[Headmaster|Headmistress]] is [[Olympe Maxime|Madame Olympe Maxime]]. The school Coat of Arms is two golden wands crossed over one another, each shooting three stars. The name provided here is presumably an Anglicised version of a French original.
  
  +
*[[International Confederation of Wizards]]
  +
**[[Educational Office]]}}
  +
{{Quote|Thought to be situated somewhere in the Pyrenees, visitors speak of the breath-taking beauty of a chateau surrounded by formal gardens and lawns created out of the mountainous landscape by magic.|Description of the landscape around Beauxbatons|Pottermore}}
  +
'''Beauxbatons Academy of Magic''' ([[French]]: ''Académie de Magie Beauxbâtons''){{fact}}<!-- Please do not remove until actual source is provided, thanks --> was the [[France|French]] [[wizarding school]] located in the [[Pyrenees]] mountains<ref name="PM"/> of southern France. It was one of the three largest [[wizarding school]]s in [[Europe]] (the other two being [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] and the [[Durmstrang Institute]]).
   
  +
The school took many of its [[Wizardkind|wizarding]] students from France, as well as large numbers from [[Spain]], [[Portugal]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Luxembourg]], and [[Belgium]]. It is unknown if students from other countries were allowed.<ref name="PM" />
−
==The School==
  
−
Beauxbatons is similar to [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]. The Academy has existed for over seven hundred years. During the [[1994–1995 school year]], a delegation of senior Beauxbatons students and their Headmistress stayed near [[Hogwarts Castle]] in Scotland to participate in a new [[Triwizard Tournament]]. The group arrived in a pastel blue [[Beauxbatons carriage|coach]] pulled by twelve huge, winged horses. The carriage door was embossed with the golden coat of arms and opened to reveal golden steps. The horses also were golden-coloured, with red eyes, and fed on single-malt whiskey. The [[Keeper of Keys and Grounds|Gamekeeper]] [[Rubeus Hagrid]] took care of the winged horses. From [[October]] until the end of the school year, the entire delegation stayed on [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] grounds, sleeping and presumably studying inside the coach, and eating in the [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] [[Great Hall]]. The school champion was Fleur Delacour, who was unsuccessful in her challenge for the Triwizard Cup.[[File:Beauxbatons_Academy_Student_2.jpg|thumb|Beauxbatons Student]]
  
   
  +
The school's [[Heraldry|coat of arms]] consisted of two golden wands crossed over one another, each shooting three stars.<ref name="GOF15">{{GOF|B|15}}</ref>
−
==The Palace==
  
−
The Academy is a glittering palace, most probably newer and brighter than the Hogwarts castle. Both [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] and [[Durmstrang Institute|Durmstrang]] are in castles; however, [[Fleur Delacour]] described Beauxbatons as a palace. The food at Beauxbatons, at least according to Fleur, is delicious, but much lighter than the food served at Hogwarts. Students are serenaded while they dine by choirs of wood nymphs. At Christmas time the dining hall is adorned with great, non-melting ice sculptures. Beauxbatons is [[Unplottability|Unplottable]], so no Muggles or even wizards from rival schools can find it on a map, and then it is disguised so that no one can really see it unless they know to look for it.
  
   
  +
==History==
−
Some have speculated that since bouillabaisse was served at the opening feast of the [[Triwizard Tournament]], and this fish soup is generally served in south-east France, Beauxbatons could be somewhere on the Mediterranean coast, perhaps near Marseille. Also, Hagrid tells Harry, Hermione and Ron that he pretended to go towards Beauxbatons to shake off followers (while going to find giants), then told professor Umbridge that he had been in southern France.
  
−
[[File:BeauxbatonsGirls.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Beauxbatons students arriving at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] in [[1994]].]]
 +
[[File:BeauxbatonsCrest.png|thumb|left|Beauxbatons Coat of Arms|alt=]]
  +
Founded sometime before the [[1290s]],<ref name="GOF">The [[Triwizard Tournament]] was founded "some seven-hundred years" before 1994, according to {{GOF|B|12}}, implying [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]], Beauxbatons and [[Durmstrang Institute|Durmstrang]] all existed by the 1290s.</ref> Beauxbatons had many noteworthy students over the years. Most prominent were [[Nicolas Flamel]], the [[alchemy|alchemist]] famed for creating the [[Philosopher's Stone]], and his wife [[Perenelle Flamel|Perenelle]].<ref name="PM" /> Apart from the Flamels, famous ex-students of Beauxbatons included [[Vincent Duc de Trefle-Picques]], who escaped the [[Terror]] by casting a [[Concealment Charm]] on his own neck and pretending that his head had already been cut off; [[Luc Millefeuille]], the infamous pastry-maker and [[Non-magic people|Muggle]]-[[poison]]er; and [[Fleur Delacour]], who fought in the world-famous [[Battle of Hogwarts]], married [[William Weasley|Bill Weasley]], and was awarded medals of bravery from both the [[French Ministry of Magic|French]] and [[British Ministry of Magic|British]] Ministries of Magic.<ref name="PM" /> [[Olympe Maxime]], [[Headmaster|Headmistress]] in the mid [[1990s]], was (in spite of her protestations to the contrary) a [[half-giant]]ess; clever, elegant, and undeniably awe-inspiring.<ref name="PM" />
−
This would also explain why Beauxbatons students are so cold when they are at Hogwarts. Beauxbatons uniforms are made of light blue silk. Other indicators are perceived accents and the confirmed ethnicity of student [[Fleur Delacour]]. Like Fleur says "ze" instead of "the" which is commonplace for French people speaking English.
  
   
  +
Beauxbatons participated in the [[Triwizard Tournament]] that was held in [[1792]] and the tournament that was held in [[1994]]. During the 1792 tournament one of the tasks involved catching a [[cockatrice]]. However, the beast went on a rampage and injured three of the judges; one of the injured was at the time the [[Headteacher of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic during 1792|head of Beauxbatons]]. In the 1994 tournament, Fleur was selected school champion and finished in fourth place behind the other three contestants. During the 1994 tournament, Madame Maxime served as head of the academy.<ref name="GOF15">{{GOF|B|15}}</ref>
−
Beauxbatons students stand at attention from when their Headmistress enters the room until she seats herself. They also seem to care more about their studies and their school's reputation than Hogwarts.
  
−
[[File:Beauxbaton.jpeg|thumb|Beaxbatons students at Hogwarts in 1994.]]
  
   
  +
In [[1927]], French wizarding newspaper ''[[Le Cri de la Gargouille]]'' reported a [[potion]] scandal involving Beauxbatons students.<ref>{{COG}} {{see image|File:Le Cri De La Gargouille.jpg}} - ''"Scandale de potion magique chez les étudiants de Beauxbâtons!"''</ref>
−
According to [[Fleur Delacour]], Beauxbatons students take their exams (presumably comparable to O.W.L.s at Hogwarts) after six years of study instead of five.
  
  +
  +
==Palace and grounds==
  +
{{Main|Palace of Beauxbatons}}
  +
  +
[[File:Beauxbatons Academy of Magic.png|240px|thumb|[[Palace of Beauxbatons]]|alt=]]
  +
The Palace of Beauxbatons was a beautiful chateau surrounded by majestic gardens and fountains [[magic]]ally created out of the surrounding mountains. The school looked very impressive despite having stood for over seven hundred years.<ref name="PM" /> In the [[Dining Chamber]], [[Wood Nymph]]s serenaded the students while they ate, and at [[Christmas]], the hall was adorned with great, glittering, non-melting ice sculptures.<ref name="GOF23">{{GOF|B|23}}</ref>
  +
  +
It was said that the stunning castle and grounds of this prestigious school were part-funded by alchemist gold, for Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel met at Beauxbatons in their youth, and a magnificent [[Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel Fountain|fountain]] in the middle of the school’s [[Beauxbatons park|park]], believed to have healing and beautifying properties, was named after them.<ref name="PM" />
  +
  +
==Traditions==
  +
{{Quote|As the gigantic black shape skimmed over the treetops of the Forbidden Forest and the lights shining from the castle windows hit it, they saw a gigantic, powderblue, horse-drawn carriage, the size of a large house, soaring toward them, pulled through the air by a dozen winged horses, all palominos, and each the size of an elephant.|The Beauxbatons' carriages arrive at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]]|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}}
  +
  +
[[File:Beauxbatons Carriage.png|250px|thumb|left|Beauxbatons's carriage|alt=]]
  +
Students and staff were transported by use of the [[Beauxbatons Carriage]]<ref>[[Wizarding World (website)|Pottermore]] - The Beauxbatons Carriage</ref> (French: ''Le carrosse de Beauxbâtons''{{fact}}<!-- do not remove until actual source is provided, thanks -->). The carriages were light blue, pulled by a dozen [[Abraxan|winged horses]]. Despite being used as transportation by Beauxbatons, travelling in an Abraxan horse-drawn giant carriage the size of a house was a breach of the [[International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy]].<ref>[[Wizards' Ordinary Magic and Basic Aptitude Test]] - Grade 1, Question 11</ref> The Abraxan horses only drank single-malt [[whisky]].
  +
  +
The students at Beauxbatons Academy were taught to stand at attention from when their Headmistress entered the room, only sitting down when she sat herself, showing their great respect for her.
  +
  +
At the Palace of Beauxbatons, they had ice sculptures all around the [[Dining Chamber]] at Christmas. The ice sculptures didn't melt, and were like statues of glittering diamond. According to [[Fleur Delacour]], the food that was served at the school was superb, with choirs of [[Wood Nymph]]s that serenaded students as they ate.<ref name="GOF23">{{GOF|B|23}}</ref>
  +
  +
Fleur also implied that Beauxbatons valued order and did not admit mess, as she claimed a [[poltergeist]] would be quickly expelled out of the palace.<ref name="GOF23">{{GOF|B|23}}</ref>
  +
  +
===Uniform===
  +
{{Main|Beauxbatons uniform}}
  +
[[File:Beauxbatonsstudent WB F4 BeauxbatonGirlsIllustration Illust 080615 Port.jpg|150px|thumb|The Beauxbatons uniform]]
  +
The students' uniforms were pale blue robes made of fine silk.<ref name="GOF15" />
  +
  +
==Reputation and rivalry==
  +
Education at Beauxbatons Academy was of a similar calibre to the education at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] in [[Scotland]]. However, there were differences, such as Beauxbatons students taking their [[Beauxbatons examinations|examinations]] in their [[sixth year]], rather than their [[fifth year|fifth]], like their [[Ordinary Wizarding Level|Hogwarts counterparts]].<ref>{{HBP|B|5}}</ref>
  +
  +
Typically, Beauxbatons Academy enjoyed a very warm, cordial relation with Hogwarts, as even during the [[Triwizard Tournament]] the two schools enjoyed a healthy rather than bitter rivalry; Beauxbatons won the Tournament sixty-two times and Hogwarts won sixty-three.<ref name="PM" />
  +
  +
In the last of these tournaments, from [[1994–1995 school year|1994–1995]], their relationship with Hogwarts was somewhat more strained, due to [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort's]] [[Bartemius Crouch Junior|servant]] placing [[Harry Potter]]'s name in the [[Goblet of Fire]] thereby giving Hogwarts a second champion, though the relationship did not become outright hostile (as individual Hogwarts and Beauxbatons students remained friendly towards one another and some even attended the [[Yule Ball]] with one another). In addition, Madam Maxime returned to Hogwarts for [[Albus Dumbledore]]'s funeral, demonstrating that the cordial relationship continued between the schools.<ref>{{HBP|B|30}}</ref>
  +
  +
The schools were also rivals in [[Wizard's Chess]]. At some point before [[1989]], the two schools participated in a [[Unidentified Wizard's Chess tournament|chess tournament]] which saw Hogwarts' students crushingly defeated, and Beauxbatons had been both undefeated and unchallenged by Hogwarts ever since. Their record was broken in the [[1988–1989 school year]], however, when [[Jacob's sibling]] and their friends defeated the number one student player in the [[wizarding world]], [[Celine Castillon]], in the [[Walter Aragon Wizard Chess Competition]].<ref name="HM5CBG">{{HM|5|The Curse Breaker's Gambit}}</ref>
  +
  +
==Administration==
  ⚫
===Heads of Beauxbatons===
  +
{| class="simple" style="border-collapse:collapse;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" border="1" " width:100%
  +
|-
  +
! scope="row" |
  +
Headmaster/Headmistress
  +
! scope="col" |
  +
Information
  +
! scope="col" |
  +
Period
  +
|-
  +
|[[Headteacher of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic during 1792]]
  +
|Injured by a [[Cockatrice]] during the [[1792 Triwizard Tournament]].
  +
|c. [[1790s|1792]]-unknown
  +
|-
  +
|[[Olympe Maxime]]
  +
|[[Half-giant]]ess
  +
|c. [[1985]]
  ⚫
|}
   
 
==Known students==
  
==Known students==
  +
<gallery navigation="true" widths="125" orientation="portrait" spacing="large" position="center">
−
[[File:Beauxbatonsleur44.jpg|thumb|Fleur and her classmates]]
  
  +
Nicolas Flamel CoG.png|[[Nicolas Flamel]]<ref name="PM" />
−
*[[Fleur Delacour]] - [[Triwizard Champion]] of Beauxbatons during the [[Triwizard Tournament]] in [[1994]].
  
  +
Aurélie Dumont.jpg|[[Aurélie Dumont]]<ref name="HM">{{HM|2|Hosting the Beauxbatons}}</ref>
⚫
*[[Gabrielle Delacour]] - [[Fleur Delacour]]'s younger sister.
  
  +
Celine Castillon HM.png|[[Celine Castillon]]
⚫
*[[Headteacher of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic during 1792|Unidentified Headteacher of Beauxbatons]] - attended [[Triwizard Tournament]] of [[1792]]
  
  +
Fleur Delacour.jpg|[[Fleur Delacour]]
−
*[[Olympe Maxime]] - [[Headmaster|Headmistress]] of Beauxbatons
  
  ⚫
Gabrielle Delacour.jpg|[[Gabrielle Delacour]]
⚫
*[[Unidentified Beauxbatons students|Various other students]]
  
  +
</gallery>
  +
*[[Perenelle Flamel]]<ref name="PM" />
  +
*[[Luc Millefeuille]]<ref name="PM" />
  +
*[[Vincent Duc de Trefle-Picques]]<ref name="PM" />
  +
*[[Davet Dumont]]<ref name="HM" />
  ⚫
*[[Unidentified Beauxbatons students|Various unidentified students]]
  +
*[[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry]] Witch<ref>Mentioned in {{DH|G1}}</ref>
   
 
==Etymology==
  
==Etymology==
  +
Beauxbatons was likely devised from the French ''beaux bâtons'', literally translated as "fine wands". In French, ''baguette'' is the word used for "[[wand]]" but ''bâton'' might be a reference to it, although it would be more likely translated as "[[staff]]" (e.g. Mad-Eye Moody's staff).
−
[[File:Beauxbatons.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Beauxbatons student clapping for their school champion, [[Fleur Delacour]]]]
  
−
Beauxbatons was likely devised from the French "beaux bâtons," literally translated as "beautiful sticks"; however in French the word "bâton" is also used to mean "wand."
  
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
  
==Behind the scenes==
  +
*Some Beauxbatons students and Madame Maxime attended the final of the Quidditch World Cup in England in 1994. It's unknown if Beauxbatons, like Hogwarts, has summer holidays in August and, if they have, if there is a regular option to stay at Beauxbatons during the summer or if this was a special arrangement for the Quidditch World Cup only.
−
*Only three residents of Beauxbatons have been named, and coincidentally, all three are some form of [[Half-breed]].
  
  +
*In the book, it's suggested both the male and female students of the school are relatively good-looking.
−
*In the [[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|film adaptation]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'', Beauxbatons appears to be an all-girl school. However, the book makes scattered references to male Beauxbatons students.
  
  +
*In the UK and US audiobook editions of {{GOF}}, the pronunciation of "Beauxbatons" sounds more French, as both [[Stephen Fry]] and [[Jim Dale]] respectively not having pronounced the S at the end of the name. {{PM}} confirms Fry's pronunciation, styling it as Bo - batton.
⚫
*In the [[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|film adaptation]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'', Beauxbatons is pronounced wrong. Dumbledore says boh-BAT-tons, but in reality, if Beauxbatons is a French school, it would be pronounced BOH-bat-ton. This appears to be an error of pronunciation on Dumbledore's behalf, seeing as the French students pronounce it correctly.
  
  +
*In {{GOF|FA}}:
⚫
*In the movie, the Beauxbatons Coat of Arms is a shield surrounded by golden lines whereas in the book it is two crossed wands emitting three stars each. However, these wands can be seen at the top of the film-version Coat of Arms.
  
  ⚫
**Beauxbatons is incorrectly pronounced by Dumbledore as boh-BAT-tons. This appears to be an error of pronunciation on Dumbledore's behalf, seeing as the French students pronounce it correctly.
−
*In the film adaptation of ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' it is said that [[Gabrielle Delacour]] is already a Beauxbatons student, but in the book of ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows|Deathly Hallows]]'', it is said Gabrielle is eleven, so she would be starting the year to come. It is also possible, though, that Beauxbatons starts earlier than Hogwarts, since it is an individual school with many differences when compared to Hogwarts.
  
  ⚫
**The Beauxbatons coat of arms is a shield surrounded by golden lines with two gold wands on the top; in the book it is two crossed wands emitting three stars each in the middle.[[File:Butterfly conjuring spell.gif|frame|The entrance of the all female students into the Great Hall in {{GOF|F}}]]
  +
**Beauxbatons is pictured in the films as an all-girls school, which is directly contrasted in the novel. At least four boys are in attendance in the book and Davet Dumont, Nicholas Flamel, Luc Millefeuille and Vincent Duc de Trefle-Picques were students in earlier decades, showing it is a co-educational establishment. It was likely intended in the films as a contrast to the students of Durmstrang, who, in the film, are all male.
  +
**[[Gabrielle Delacour]] appears to already be a Beauxbatons student; the book does not explicitly identify her as such, though she does come to Hogwarts with the other Beauxbatons students. As {{DH}} reveals Gabrielle to be eleven by that point (marking her as eight at the beginning of ''Goblet of Fire''), this suggests that Beauxbatons students start school at a much earlier age than Hogwarts ones.
  +
*The students of Beauxbatons likely buy their material like books and wands on [[Place Cachée]].
  +
*The coined term Beauxbatons may be a parody of Académie des Beaux-Arts, the French Academy of Fine Arts.
   
 
==Appearances==
  
==Appearances==
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' {{1st Mention}}
 +
*{{GOF}} {{1st Mention}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)]]'' {{Mention}}
 +
*{{GOF|F}} {{Mention}}
  +
*{{GOF|G}} {{Mention}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)]]'' {{Mention}}
  
  +
*{{DH|G1}} {{Mention}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)]]'' {{Mention}}
  
−
*''[[Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book]]'' {{Mention}}
 +
*{{CC}} {{Mention}}
  +
*{{CC|P}} {{Mention}}
−  
  +
*{{COG|S}} {{Mention}}
−
==See also==
  
  +
*{{COG}} {{Mention}}
−
*[[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]
  
  +
*{{PM}} {{1st}}
−
*[[Durmstrang Institute]]
  
  +
*{{WW}}
  +
*{{HPPU}} {{Mention}}
  +
*{{HPV|CH}} {{Mention}}
  +
*{{HPV|CR}} {{Mention}}
  +
*{{HM}} {{Mention}}
  +
*{{WU}} {{Mention}}
  +
*{{HL}} {{Mention}}
  +
*''[[The Art of Harry Potter Mini Book of Graphic Design]]''
   
 
==Notes and references==
  
==Notes and references==
 
{{Reflist}}
  
{{Reflist}}
−  
 
{{Education}}
  
{{Education}}
 
{{Triwizard}}
  
{{Triwizard}}
  +
[[ca:Beauxbatons]]
  +
[[da:Beauxbatons]]
 
[[de:Beauxbatons-Akademie für Zauberei]]
  
[[de:Beauxbatons-Akademie für Zauberei]]
 
[[es:Academia Mágica Beauxbatons]]
  
[[es:Academia Mágica Beauxbatons]]
  +
[[et:Beauxbatons]]
  +
[[fi:Beauxbatons]]
 
[[fr:Beauxbâtons]]
  
[[fr:Beauxbâtons]]
 
[[it:Accademia di Magia di Beauxbatons]]
  
[[it:Accademia di Magia di Beauxbatons]]
  +
[[ja:ボーバトン魔法アカデミー]]
  +
[[nl:Beauxbatons Academie voor Toverkunst]]
  +
[[no:Beauxbatons magiske akademi]]
  +
[[pl:Akademia Magii Beauxbatons]]
  +
[[pt:Academia de Magia Beauxbatons]]
 
[[ru:Шармбатон]]
  
[[ru:Шармбатон]]
−
[[fi:Beauxbatons]]
 +
[[sv:Beauxbatons]]
  +
[[th:วิทยาลัยเวทมนตร์โบซ์บาตง]]
⚫
[[Category:Beauxbatons]]
  
  +
[[uk:Бобатон]]
⚫
[[Category:Unplottable locations]]
  
  +
[[zh:布斯巴顿魔法学院]]
−
[[Category:Locations]]
  
  +
  +
[[Category:Beauxbatons|Beauxbatons]]
  ⚫
[[Category:Triwizard schools]]

Latest revision as of 09:45, 17 March 2024

Hand pointing right transparent Warning!

At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery & Hogwarts Legacy.
As such, spoilers will be present within the article.

"Thought to be situated somewhere in the Pyrenees, visitors speak of the breath-taking beauty of a chateau surrounded by formal gardens and lawns created out of the mountainous landscape by magic."
— Description of the landscape around Beauxbatons[src]

Beauxbatons Academy of Magic (French: Académie de Magie Beauxbâtons)[citation needed] was the French wizarding school located in the Pyrenees mountains[1] of southern France. It was one of the three largest wizarding schools in Europe (the other two being Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the Durmstrang Institute).

The school took many of its wizarding students from France, as well as large numbers from Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium. It is unknown if students from other countries were allowed.[1]

The school's coat of arms consisted of two golden wands crossed over one another, each shooting three stars.[2]

History

BeauxbatonsCrest

Beauxbatons Coat of Arms

Founded sometime before the 1290s,[3] Beauxbatons had many noteworthy students over the years. Most prominent were Nicolas Flamel, the alchemist famed for creating the Philosopher's Stone, and his wife Perenelle.[1] Apart from the Flamels, famous ex-students of Beauxbatons included Vincent Duc de Trefle-Picques, who escaped the Terror by casting a Concealment Charm on his own neck and pretending that his head had already been cut off; Luc Millefeuille, the infamous pastry-maker and Muggle-poisoner; and Fleur Delacour, who fought in the world-famous Battle of Hogwarts, married Bill Weasley, and was awarded medals of bravery from both the French and British Ministries of Magic.[1] Olympe Maxime, Headmistress in the mid 1990s, was (in spite of her protestations to the contrary) a half-giantess; clever, elegant, and undeniably awe-inspiring.[1]

Beauxbatons participated in the Triwizard Tournament that was held in 1792 and the tournament that was held in 1994. During the 1792 tournament one of the tasks involved catching a cockatrice. However, the beast went on a rampage and injured three of the judges; one of the injured was at the time the head of Beauxbatons. In the 1994 tournament, Fleur was selected school champion and finished in fourth place behind the other three contestants. During the 1994 tournament, Madame Maxime served as head of the academy.[2]

In 1927, French wizarding newspaper Le Cri de la Gargouille reported a potion scandal involving Beauxbatons students.[4]

Palace and grounds

Main article: Palace of Beauxbatons
Beauxbatons Academy of Magic

Palace of Beauxbatons

The Palace of Beauxbatons was a beautiful chateau surrounded by majestic gardens and fountains magically created out of the surrounding mountains. The school looked very impressive despite having stood for over seven hundred years.[1] In the Dining Chamber, Wood Nymphs serenaded the students while they ate, and at Christmas, the hall was adorned with great, glittering, non-melting ice sculptures.[5]

It was said that the stunning castle and grounds of this prestigious school were part-funded by alchemist gold, for Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel met at Beauxbatons in their youth, and a magnificent fountain in the middle of the school’s park, believed to have healing and beautifying properties, was named after them.[1]

Traditions

"As the gigantic black shape skimmed over the treetops of the Forbidden Forest and the lights shining from the castle windows hit it, they saw a gigantic, powderblue, horse-drawn carriage, the size of a large house, soaring toward them, pulled through the air by a dozen winged horses, all palominos, and each the size of an elephant."
— The Beauxbatons' carriages arrive at Hogwarts[src]
Beauxbatons Carriage

Beauxbatons's carriage

Students and staff were transported by use of the Beauxbatons Carriage[6] (French: Le carrosse de Beauxbâtons[citation needed]). The carriages were light blue, pulled by a dozen winged horses. Despite being used as transportation by Beauxbatons, travelling in an Abraxan horse-drawn giant carriage the size of a house was a breach of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy.[7] The Abraxan horses only drank single-malt whisky.

The students at Beauxbatons Academy were taught to stand at attention from when their Headmistress entered the room, only sitting down when she sat herself, showing their great respect for her.

At the Palace of Beauxbatons, they had ice sculptures all around the Dining Chamber at Christmas. The ice sculptures didn't melt, and were like statues of glittering diamond. According to Fleur Delacour, the food that was served at the school was superb, with choirs of Wood Nymphs that serenaded students as they ate.[5]

Fleur also implied that Beauxbatons valued order and did not admit mess, as she claimed a poltergeist would be quickly expelled out of the palace.[5]

Uniform

Main article: Beauxbatons uniform
Beauxbatonsstudent WB F4 BeauxbatonGirlsIllustration Illust 080615 Port

The Beauxbatons uniform

The students' uniforms were pale blue robes made of fine silk.[2]

Reputation and rivalry

Education at Beauxbatons Academy was of a similar calibre to the education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Scotland. However, there were differences, such as Beauxbatons students taking their examinations in their sixth year, rather than their fifth, like their Hogwarts counterparts.[8]

Typically, Beauxbatons Academy enjoyed a very warm, cordial relation with Hogwarts, as even during the Triwizard Tournament the two schools enjoyed a healthy rather than bitter rivalry; Beauxbatons won the Tournament sixty-two times and Hogwarts won sixty-three.[1]

In the last of these tournaments, from 1994–1995, their relationship with Hogwarts was somewhat more strained, due to Lord Voldemort's servant placing Harry Potter's name in the Goblet of Fire thereby giving Hogwarts a second champion, though the relationship did not become outright hostile (as individual Hogwarts and Beauxbatons students remained friendly towards one another and some even attended the Yule Ball with one another). In addition, Madam Maxime returned to Hogwarts for Albus Dumbledore's funeral, demonstrating that the cordial relationship continued between the schools.[9]

The schools were also rivals in Wizard's Chess. At some point before 1989, the two schools participated in a chess tournament which saw Hogwarts' students crushingly defeated, and Beauxbatons had been both undefeated and unchallenged by Hogwarts ever since. Their record was broken in the 1988–1989 school year, however, when Jacob's sibling and their friends defeated the number one student player in the wizarding world, Celine Castillon, in the Walter Aragon Wizard Chess Competition.[10]

Administration

Heads of Beauxbatons

Headmaster/Headmistress

Information

Period

Headteacher of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic during 1792 Injured by a Cockatrice during the 1792 Triwizard Tournament. c. 1792-unknown
Olympe Maxime Half-giantess c. 1985

Known students

Etymology

Beauxbatons was likely devised from the French beaux bâtons, literally translated as "fine wands". In French, baguette is the word used for "wand" but bâton might be a reference to it, although it would be more likely translated as "staff" (e.g. Mad-Eye Moody's staff).

Behind the scenes

  • Some Beauxbatons students and Madame Maxime attended the final of the Quidditch World Cup in England in 1994. It's unknown if Beauxbatons, like Hogwarts, has summer holidays in August and, if they have, if there is a regular option to stay at Beauxbatons during the summer or if this was a special arrangement for the Quidditch World Cup only.
  • In the book, it's suggested both the male and female students of the school are relatively good-looking.
  • In the UK and US audiobook editions of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the pronunciation of "Beauxbatons" sounds more French, as both Stephen Fry and Jim Dale respectively not having pronounced the S at the end of the name. Pottermore confirms Fry's pronunciation, styling it as Bo - batton.
  • In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire:
    • Beauxbatons is incorrectly pronounced by Dumbledore as boh-BAT-tons. This appears to be an error of pronunciation on Dumbledore's behalf, seeing as the French students pronounce it correctly.
    • The Beauxbatons coat of arms is a shield surrounded by golden lines with two gold wands on the top; in the book it is two crossed wands emitting three stars each in the middle.
      Butterfly conjuring spell

      The entrance of the all female students into the Great Hall in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)

    • Beauxbatons is pictured in the films as an all-girls school, which is directly contrasted in the novel. At least four boys are in attendance in the book and Davet Dumont, Nicholas Flamel, Luc Millefeuille and Vincent Duc de Trefle-Picques were students in earlier decades, showing it is a co-educational establishment. It was likely intended in the films as a contrast to the students of Durmstrang, who, in the film, are all male.
    • Gabrielle Delacour appears to already be a Beauxbatons student; the book does not explicitly identify her as such, though she does come to Hogwarts with the other Beauxbatons students. As Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows reveals Gabrielle to be eleven by that point (marking her as eight at the beginning of Goblet of Fire), this suggests that Beauxbatons students start school at a much earlier age than Hogwarts ones.
  • The students of Beauxbatons likely buy their material like books and wands on Place Cachée.
  • The coined term Beauxbatons may be a parody of Académie des Beaux-Arts, the French Academy of Fine Arts.

Appearances

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Beauxbatons Academy of Magic" at Wizarding World
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 15 (Beauxbatons and Durmstrang)
  3. ↑ The Triwizard Tournament was founded "some seven-hundred years" before 1994, according to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 12 (The Triwizard Tournament), implying Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang all existed by the 1290s.
  4. ↑ Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (see this image) - "Scandale de potion magique chez les étudiants de Beauxbâtons!"
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 23 (The Yule Ball)
  6. ↑ Pottermore - The Beauxbatons Carriage
  7. ↑ Wizards' Ordinary Magic and Basic Aptitude Test - Grade 1, Question 11
  8. ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 5 (An Excess of Phlegm)
  9. ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 30 (The White Tomb)
  10. ↑ Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Side Quest "The Curse Breaker's Gambit"
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 2, "Hosting the Beauxbatons" Achievement
  12. ↑ Mentioned in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
Wizarding education
BeauxbatonsCrestClearBg
Hogwartscrest
Ilvermorny Crest 4
DurmstrangCrest
The eleven schools
Beauxbatons · Castelobruxo · Durmstrang · Hogwarts · Ilvermorny · Koldovstoretz · Mahoutokoro · Uagadou
Specialised schools
Academy of Broom Flying · Charm School · Euro-Glyph School of Extraordinary Languages · Merge School of Under-Water Spellage · The Naaszcademy of Magizoology · Wizarding Academy of Dramatic Arts · Young Wizards Daycare Center
The Triwizard Tournament
Triwizard Cup
Objects & Locations: Goblet of Fire • Casket • Golden egg • Hedge Maze • Triwizard Cup
Schools: Beauxbatons • Durmstrang • Hogwarts
1994-1995 Triwizard Champions: Fleur Delacour • Viktor Krum • Cedric Diggory • Harry Potter
Català Dansk Deutsch Español Eesti Suomi Français Italiano 日本語 Nederlands Norsk Polski Português Русский Svenska ไทย Українська 中文
*Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, Fandom will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.
More Fandoms