France – The Beaxbatons Academy of
Magic

The Beauxbatons Academy of Magic (French: l'académie de magie de Beauxbâtons) is the main wizarding school of France and is a all-witches institution. Beaxbatons is located in the French Pyrenees in southern France and welcomes not only French witches but also students from Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg and the Netherlands (however let it be noted that Portuguese and Spanish students also attend Stati Magia, the Italian school of Magic – see chapter three). The current headmistress is Miss Gabrielle Delacour, who took over from previous Headmistress Madame Olympe Maxine last year when the former leader of the school retired.

Founding:

The Beaxbatons Academy of Magic was founded later than
other Magical Education Centres and opened to witches in 1781 after being under
construction for three years. Notable witches Jeanette De Brie and Cerise
Florette co-founded the Academy as a place for witches to study in harmony and
avoid the effects of the anti-feminine attitude of the era. Both witches were
highly religious Protestants despite their magical ties and together designed
the school chapel with care, where portraits of both witches hang, singing
French and English hymns at certain times in the day. Florette still haunts the
castle as a figure that watches students go by from various positions in the
school, smiling at those with particular promise. It is considered an honour to
receive attention from the ghost and students are said to work hard for her
appreciation.

De Brie passed away in 1824, Florette following four
years later in 1828.

Further History:

Beaxbatons soon became a centre of education for all
kinds of students and was a strong Establishment from the start. Many high-born
French witches attended the school and were not only schooled in the everyday
education but were also given classes in ways of concealment of their magic at
court. This died out after the several French revolutions but was highly
beneficial for the French Noblewomen at the time. 

The Beaxbatons Academy of Magic was not particularly affected by the revolution, however the number of high-born students rose and dropped by turns as they received refugees and lost others to the guillotine and other treatments.

The early twentieth century saw Beaxbatons form a closer bond with Hogwarts after the French-Great Britain treaty in 1904. They were close before, sharing Triwizard Tournaments, and this strengthened the bond. 

The outbreak of the muggle First World War caused Beaxbatons to gain some refugees from other countries, namely Belgians and even some Austrian Witches. By the time peace was declared, Beaxbatons had formed a reputation in many other countries and was thanked by many. 

The twenties and thirties saw a relatively peaceful time for the school, though many French Presidents had to be negotiated with. A group of students also formed a jazz band that later toured the United States and Canada, and much modern music reached the school, earning it a musical reputation also.

After the Second World War, when more refugees poured in (including Spanish Witches from the revolution), Beaxbatons opened to Male Students and remained so until the late 1980s when a smaller school for Wizards opened in Belgium and claimed many of their male students.

In 1994 -1995, seventh year Beaxbatons students travelled to Hogwarts in their infamous carriage (as large as a house, pastel blue in colour and pulled by Abraxine horses that drink only fine malt whiskey) and participated in the revival of the Triwizard Tournament, Fleur Delacour (elder sister of the current headmistress, Gabrielle Delacour) entering as their champion. Fleur, however, did not win the tournament as fellow champion Viktor Krumm attacked her in the maze of the last task when he was under the imperious curse. 

Madame Olympe Maxine, the headmistress at that time, participated in the Wizarding War and was a great friend of the late Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledoor. Fleur Delacour, who later married notable Wizarding War fighter Bill Weasley and became Mrs Fleur Weasley, also fought in the Wizarding War alongside her husband. 

Beaxbatons is now a peaceful and highly esteemed institution attended by a huge variety of students. 

Notable Members:

▪ Fleur Delacour

▪ Gabrielle Delacour

▪ Luc Millefeuille

▪ Nicolas Flamel

▪ Olympe Maxime

▪ Perenelle Flamel

▪ Vincent Duc de Trefle-Picques

Education:

Like in most Wizarding Schools, there are seven years of education for students of the Beaxbatons Academy to work through, however, Beaxbatons students take their O.W.L.s in their sixth year rather than their fifth, and another level of education, college courses, was opened only a few months ago. In the early years of the school deportment, style and music were required classes for students, and though they are now only optional, many students take them. Students also have the option to learn foreign languages such as English and Spanish.

Beaxbatons students are not sorted into any kinds of houses as they are in Hogwarts. 

Setting:

The exact location of The Beaxbatons Academy of Magic is unknown, but it is said to lie somewhere in the French Pyrenees, a mountain range in the south of France that covers the Spanish border. The Pyrenees is a dry, warm region, explaining why when Beaxbatons students visited Hogwarts, which is located in Northern Scotland, felt considerably chilly. 

The building is a beautiful Château, said to be over seven hundred years old. The Château was modernised and transformed when the headmistresses bought it for the school upon founding the institution. Beaxbatons Palace is a beautiful chateau surrounded by majestic gardens and fountains. In the Dining Hall, wood nymphs serenade the students while they eat, and at Christmas the hall is adorned with great, glittering, non-melting ice sculptures. In the park stands the Nicolas and Perenelle Fountain, which is believed to hold healing and beautifying powers. It was built to honour Nicolas and Perenella Flamel, who part-funded the castle and grounds.