France. Sarthe. La Flèche. The gateway to the Prytanée National Militaire. The buildings now accommodate one of six military schools in France. During the 16th century, Françoise, duchess of Alençon, and grandmother to the future Henry IV established a castle in La Flèche which was given to the Jesuits by Henri IV in 1604 to found a college to select and train the best minds of the time. In 1764 following the expulsion of the Jesuits the school was transformed by Louis XV into a military institution designed to train young cadets for admission to the Ecole Militaire. 2014