741393 The Observatory, detail from the Plan of Paris, known as the \'Plan de Turgot\', engraved by Claude Lucas, 1734-39 (engraving) (detail of 233535) by Bretez, Louis (18th century) (after); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France; (add.info.: The Observatoire Royal is the oldest working observatory in the world; founded by French King Louis XIV and designed by Claude Perrault (1613-88); begun in 1667 and completed in 1672: built of stone to avoid the risk of fire and without metal to avoid magnetic disturbance. Also shown is the \'Institution de l\'Oratoire\' in the rue d\'Enfer. This was the seminary for the Society of the Oratory of Jesus (Soci矇t矇 de l\'Oratoire de J矇sus et de Marie Immacul矇e), also known as the French Oratory, a Catholic Congregation founded in 1611 in Paris by Pierre de B矇rulle (1575-1629);); French, out of copyright.