La Martiniere was intended as a palace, became a tomb and is now a school.
La Martinere of Lucknow consists of two schools, one for the boys and another for girls, located on different campuses. The one for the boys was established in 1845 while the section for girls was founded in 1869. La Martinere of Lucknow was the legacy of a French general, Claude Martin (1735-1800), who served the Lucknow rulers in the 18th century. He designed and constructed this building, and then decided to have himself buried in it to prevent another noblemen from taking it over upon his death. He left a grant to turn it into a school, now among the leading educational institutions of India. The girls school played a major role in educating women before Independence.