This building has served as an educational institution since its inception and continues to do so today, although its history is not as simple as it may seem.

Its creation began in the mid-19th century when Madame Detush from the Depre family, being a Catholic, decided to enter a convent and donated part of her fortune to the Church of Saint Louis for the construction of a boys' real school. The Depre family was known as wine merchants and bore the family name Philippe. Madame wished to name the school in honor of Saint Philip Neri. In the same decade, another Catholic, merchant Jean Villua, donated funds for the construction of a girls' school named after Saint Catherine.

In 1897 and 1899, architect O.F. Didio built a building for the two French schools. The right part, built later, was intended for boys, while the left part, erected first, was for girls. Both parts are united by a central entrance in the form of an arched niche.

The girls' school was attended by the People's Artist V.P. Maretskaya.

After 1917, the schools were closed. In the 1930s, a chemical-industrial technical school was located here, followed by a four-year school, and later a school for working youth. By that time, the French schools were forgotten.

In the 1990s, an employee of the French embassy accidentally discovered a pre-revolutionary postcard depicting a brick building with the inscription: "School at the French Church." This find marked the beginning of the revival of French heritage on this street.

In 1997, an agreement was signed between Russia and France, under which the building was leased to the French state for 49 years. French President Jacques Chirac unveiled a memorial plaque on the future Lyceum building.

The reconstruction lasted several years, and the facade was restored according to the original design of O.F. Didio.

In 2005, the solemn opening of the Lyceum named after Alexandre Dumas took place. Currently, about a thousand children study here, and classes are conducted in French.

According to French laws, one percent of the construction cost must be spent on art items. The French jokingly call this "one-percent art." The Lyceum spent its percentage on pirates: throughout the building, in the foyer, classrooms, and corridors, images of amusing one-eyed pirates are displayed. What can I say, the French!