Slide through the Berger-Levrault odyssey since its creation

1463-1764

Creation of the Berger‑Levrault publishing house: printer and bookseller

Berger‑Levrault's odyssey began in 1463 with the publication of the Mirror of Redemption by Bernard Rihel, ancestor of Frederic‑Guillaume Schmuck, and prototypographer in Basel in 1474. In Gutenberg times, he printed 500 copies of the first Latin Bible in Switzerland.

In 1676, Frédéric-Guillaume Schmuck opens his first bookshop in Strasbourg.

In 1681, he purchased printing presses to continue to grow his business.

1765-1820

Strong growth of the publishing house. Trilingual edition of the Napoleon Code.

Beginning in 1765, François-Robert-Adrien Christmann and his brother-in-law François-George Levrault headed the company. The latter is particularly well known for his humanist principles.

A few years later, the French Revolution not only introduced reforms, laws and new regulations throughout France, but also contributed to the company’s growth: the majority of its business comes from the French government.

In 1811, the publishing house, headed by‑François-Laurent-Xavier Levrault (François‑George’s son), printed the trilingual version of the Napoleon Code.

1821-1849

Successful mother-daughter duo at the helm

In 1821, Caroline, widow of François-Laurent-Xavier Levrault, took over the company's management with the help of her son‑in‑law, Frédéric Berger, who aspired to develop educational publishing. Her second son-in-law, Charles Pitois, was entrusted with the opening of a new bookshop.

The publishing house continued to grow, increasing its output and employing about fifty employees. Because of the unexpected death of her two sons‑in‑law, Caroline Levrault and her daughter Eleonore (Frédéric’s widow) headed the business coming years.

Eléonore contributed significantly to the company’s growth. She hired Jules Norberg who quickly takes over the company’s books and became a valuable employee.

1850-1913

Modernization of the company through social and technological breakthroughs

In 1850, Oscar, the son of Eleonore Berger‑Levrault, took over the family business.

Oscar Berger‑Levrault and Jules Norberg focused on printing and modernized supply and production. They replaced old wooden presses with new Stanhope presses. Berger‑Levrault was the first company to use a cast iron machine.

In 1877, it employed more than 400 workers and provided employee training, health insurance and pensions.

In line with the pioneering spirit of their predecessors, Charles Norberg (son of Jules) and Robert Steinheil (son of Oscar) integrate photoengraving into the production processes.

1914-1918

Official printer of the French and Belgian governments, then the U.S. army

During the First World War, the company followed the government to Bordeaux. It opened an office there to preserve its contacts with the departments of the French government. This is how it became the official printer of the French and Belgian governments and the U.S. army.

300 years after its creation, Berger‑Levrault, still at the cutting edge of technology, employed 850 employees.

1981-2012

Berger‑Levrault goes digital: from printing to software publishing

In 1981, Berger‑Levrault continued to adapt to its environment and to the new technologies that it integrates in its production processes. The company entered the digital age. It sold the printing works, kept the publishing house and designed its first management software for local authorities and the medical and social industries.

In 2003, the software offering expanded to the health care industry.