1
00:00:03,071 --> 00:00:07,140
Unfortunately, we are out of luck and this
building is currently undergoing renovations.

2
00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:10,940
Nevertheless, the story is interesting enough
to compensate for this.

3
00:00:11,040 --> 00:00:14,304
This commemorative plaque
pays tribute to George Lemaître.

4
00:00:14,404 --> 00:00:17,380
If his name rings a bell,
it's because this brilliant physicist

5
00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:20,345
was the first person to propose
the Big Bang theory.

6
00:00:20,700 --> 00:00:24,235
He also maintained frequent
correspondence with Albert Einstein.

7
00:00:24,335 --> 00:00:28,820
The history of this building goes back to
the 16th century and it was initially a formation house

8
00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:32,280
for canons regular of
the Premonstratensian Order.

9
00:00:32,380 --> 00:00:37,365
A few centuries later, the building was demolished
and replaced with this beautiful example

10
00:00:37,465 --> 00:00:39,871
of Louis XIV style architecture.

11
00:00:40,235 --> 00:00:44,459
Since the 19th century, however, this place
has been centred on physics.

12
00:00:44,768 --> 00:00:47,620
The Physics Institute was founded here in 1818.

13
00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:52,782
As you can see, the building is currently
surrounded by scaffolding because the laboratories

14
00:00:52,882 --> 00:00:54,919
and lecture halls of the Chemistry and Biology

15
00:00:55,019 --> 00:00:58,314
departments were in urgent need
of renovation and repair.