Beauxbatons
From the Encyclopedia of Speculative Fiction - http://encyclopedia.wizards.pro
| Harry Potter School | |
| Beauxbatons | |
|---|---|
| Location | France |
| Headmistress | Olympe Maxime |
| Permanent Residents | Unknown |
| First Appearance | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire |
Beauxbatons Academy of Magic is a French wizard school similar to Hogwarts. It was first introduced in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the fourth novel. It has existed since at least 700 years ago, as that was when they began participating in the Triwizard Tournament. Beauxbatons's current headmistress is Olympe Maxime.
Some have speculated that since bouillabaisse was served at the opening feast of the Triwizard Tournament, and this fish soup is generally served in southeast France, one could assume that Beauxbatons is somewhere on the Mediterranean coast of France, perhaps Marseilles. This would also explain why Beauxbatons students are so cold when they are in Hogwarts.
They are certainly accustomed to warmer weather than what they encounter at Hogwarts. Beauxbatons uniforms are made of light blue silk, and the school coat of arms is two golden wands crossed over one another, each shooting three stars. 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.
The Academy is in a glittering palace, probably newer and brighter than Hogwarts Castle. The food, at least according to Fleur Delacour, 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 Unplottable, so no muggles or even wizards from rival schools can find it on a map, and it is disguised so that no one can really see it unless they know to look for it. The Academy has existed for over seven hundred years, and was part of the Triwizard Tournament since its founding.
"Beaux bâtons" is French for "beautiful batons." The "bâtons" part is presumably a reference to magical wands.
| Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow. |
As both Hogwarts and Durmstrang are in castles and Fleur Delacour said Beauxbatons was a palace, it is likely that Beauxbatons is also inside a castle. Beauxbatons competed in the 1994 Triwizard Tournament. The champion for Beauxbatons turned out to be Fleur Delacour. Fleur wasn't pleased with Hogwarts, and spent half her time bragging about how much better Beauxbatons was.
In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Olympe Maxime journeyed with Hagrid to get the giants on Dumbledore's side before Lord Voldemort could. It isn't known who took over the headmastership.
Note
- It seems (based on the trailer) that in the The Goblet of Fire film, Beauxbatons is an all-girl school, but this was not the case in the book, which makes scattered references to male Beauxbatons students.