French school founded in Traiguén in 1891 becomes South America's oldest

On August 21, 1891, a group of French and Swiss settlers established the Alianza Francesa de Traiguén, an institution that would later become the Colegio Louis Pasteur. This school holds the distinction of being the oldest French school in continuous operation in South America.

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The establishment would become the oldest functioning French school in South America.

Traiguén had welcomed many European immigrants during the colonization of the Araucanía region. Among them were French and Swiss families whose children had limited opportunities to maintain their native language and culture. To address this, 45 settlers contributed 583 pesos to create a French school.

The school began operations the following year and affiliated with the Alianza Francesa in Paris. By 1896, the Parisian institution officially recognized the Traiguén school as part of its network. A letter confirming this recognition was signed by prominent figures including Louis Pasteur, Ferdinand de Lesseps, and Jules Verne.

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45 settlers subscribed to a list of adhesion to create a French school, with a capital of 583 pesos.

Over time, other French schools in nearby towns closed, leaving the Traiguén establishment as the sole surviving institution of its kind in South America. A century after its founding, the school adopted the name Colegio Louis Pasteur, honoring its historical ties and the legacy of French education.

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In 1896, the Parisian institution officially recognized the Traiguén school as part of its network, in a letter signed, among others, by Louis Pasteur, Ferdinand de Lesseps and Jules Verne.