Founded in 1920, inaugurated in 1928, destroyed in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War and reconstructed in 1959 in its original place, in the middle of the students' halls of residence, the Casa de Velázquez is now a public establishment whose nature is mostly scientific, cultural, and professional. Its mission is to develop creative and research activities related to art, languages, literature and Spanish and Iberian civilizations, to contribute to the formation of artists and teaching-researchers, and to participate in the development of artistic and scientific exchanges between France* and the Iberian countries.

    It welcomes, mostly for two years, within the "École des Hautes Etudes Hispaniques" (Scientific Section), 18 researchers (archeologists, historians, geographers, students of language,literature and art, sociologists, economists etc...). It also takes in, in its artistic section, 13 artists (painters, sculptors, engravers, architects, musicians, film makers, photographers etc...), two scholars  proceeding from some of the biggest cities in Spain.

    It also accommodates short-stay scholars, and occasionally some visitors. It organizes each year a varied program of scientific and artistic exhibitions.

    The "Casa" includes a main building for the technical and administrative services, the library, a restaurant and 28 rooms intended, first, for  scholars, but they can also accommodate some visitors, this of course depending on the availability of rooms. The Casa de Velázquez also has at its disposal  about 15 studios for artists, spread out through its gardens and main building as well as various technical rooms (music and engraving studios, photography laboratory,  studio, etc...).

    80.000 volumes are available in the library, all accessible to high-level researchers. Thanks to its publishing department, the Casa de Velázquez contributes to the distribution of the members' and collaborators' work. A computer room is also open to members, scholars and visitors.