It was not possible to stand close to the front of the Institut de France to take a panroama as there is a major road here. The building is also quite tall, especially the dome on the center, which also meant that I had to stand back a bit. As a result, while the focus of the picture is the Institut de France, the pin sits on the Pont des Arts on the Google map of Paris. The image also shows some of the view along the River Seine.

Institut de France - Paris visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Institut de France' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Paris.

Panorama taken from the Pont des Arts in Paris showing the front of the Institut de France (French Institute). The Institut de France was set up 1795 and replaced, or amalgamated, five learned societies in France suppress by the Convention. These five societies, which were founded or reorganized principally by Richelieu and Colbert between 1635 and 1671, were:

1. French Academy (language and literature)
2. Académie royale de Peinture et de Sculpture (fine arts)
3. Académie royale des Inscriptions et Médailles (public inscriptions, medal design, etc - renamed the Académie royale des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres in 1716)
4. Académie royale des Sciences 
5. Académie royale d'Architecture

The naming are repeated reorganizing of the different parts of the Institut de France very much reflected the changing political views of what was acceptable and what was considered subversive. The Institute finally settled into five different academies now known as French Academy, the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres (history and archaeology), the Académie des Sciences, the Académie des Beaux-Arts, and the Académie des Sciences morales et politiques. These academies continue to promote research and award prizes, and also attempt to defend the French language and culture form increasing westernisation and introduction of English or American terms and morals. The success of this enterprise is debatable.

The Pont des Arts links the Institut de France on the south bank of the River Seine to the Quai de Francios Mitterand as it runs along the Denon wing of le Louvre museum. This is a romantic footbridge and offers great views along the Seine, especially of the Ile de la Cite and Pont Neuf.

Metro: Pont Neuf (line 7), then walk either over Pont Neuf or downriver a little to Pont des Arts.