Beauxbatons

Harry Potter School
Beauxbatons Academy of Magic
Motto	unknown
Established	1300s or earlier
School Type	Witchcraft and wizardry
Head	Olympe Maxime
Location	South of France
Enrollment	unknown
Permanent Residents	Unknown
First Appearance	[HP4]

Beauxbatons Academy of Magic is a fictional
magic school similar to Hogwarts in
the Harry Potter series of books. It was first
introduced in Harry Potter and the Goblet
of Fire and existed at least 700 years ago, as that was
when they began participating in the Triwizard Tournament. Beauxbatons is
located in France and its 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 Marseille. This would also explain why Beauxbatons
students are so cold when they arrive at Hogwarts, which is in
Scotland. Also, when Hagrid and Maxime set out on a secret quest
for the giants at the end of book four, Hagrid is questioned about
where they went (in book five). He airily replies that he went to
the South of France.

Another speculation is that, since in France the area with the
most connection to magic is Britanny, the shool might be found
there.

Fleur's descriptions of the school could also be pointing
towards one of the chateaux on the Loire River. Beauxbatons could
indeed be housed in a large chateau, in the apparent tradition of
ancient schools of magic.

The students' uniforms also suggest they are accustomed to
warmer weather than what they encounter at Hogwarts. Beauxbatons
uniforms are made of black silk, and the school coat of arms is two
golden wands crossed over one another, each shooting three stars.
They also seem to care more about their studies and their school's
reputation.

The Academy is in a glittering palace, probably brighter than
Hogwarts Castle, as befitting its distinct Mediterranean feel. The
food, at least according to Fleur Delacour, is delicious but much
lighter than the food served at Hogwarts. Rather than suits of
armour, the halls of Beauxbatons are flanked by statues of diamond.
The palace contains choirs of wood nymphs, who serenade them while
they eat. Beauxbatons is Unplottable, so no muggles or even wizards
from rival schools can find it on a map, and it may be disguised so
no one can really see it unless they know to look for it. "Beaux
bâtons" is French for "beautiful sticks." The
"bâtons" part is presumably a reference to magical wands. The
French word for "magic wand" is "baguette
magique", which would make most people in the English-speaking
world think of a loaf of bread, so it is not surprising that
Rowling did not use it.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or
ending details follow.

Beauxbatons competed in the 1994 Triwizard Tournament. The champion for
Beauxbatons turned out to be Fleur
Delacour. Fleur wasn't impressed with Hogwarts, and spent much
of 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. Also in Harry Potter and the
Half-Blood Prince, Fleur
Delacour is back as Bill's fiancee.

In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,
all the Beauxbatons students are female and it is mistakenly
suggested that it may be an all-girls school, whereas the book
describes male students as also being present.

Spoilers
end here.