Institut Lyfe, the culinary school founded in 1990 and renamed from the Paul Bocuse Institute, now enrolls 1,200 students from 75 nationalities across two castles in Écully, near Lyon, after the 2023 opening of the Château de la Roseraie centre.
The institution began as the École des Arts Culinaires et d’Hôtellerie under France’s culture minister Jack Lang in 1990, with Bocuse serving as honorary patron. In 1998, Gérard Pélisson of Accor took over as president, and the school adopted the name Institut Paul Bocuse in 2002.
Institut Lyfe offers bachelor’s, master’s and MSc degrees across culinary arts, pastry, hospitality management and wine management, blending practical projects with entrepreneurial training.
The 2008 Centre for Food and Hospitality Research, the first of its kind in Europe, links academic study with industry practice, while the 2018 dual accreditation from the French Ministry of Higher Education legitimised its programmes.
The training restaurant Saisons earned a Michelin star in 2020 and joined Relais & Châteaux in 2022, cementing the school’s reputation and drawing students worldwide.
The expanded facilities will accommodate the growing student body, positioning the institute as a leading global culinary hub.