Cloister of the Récollets convent

The remains of the former cloister form a clear, sober and orderly space, the many asymmetries between arches prevent any severity. The galleries include twelve spans, and the one parallel to the street has an arcade with irregular widths and layout. The recess, running along the arcade creates a discreet visual detail that defines a certain elegance. Despite the close proximity of the street, the place has retained its serenity of yesteryear.

Historical
An elegant composition from the 17th century, the stairs, the cloister and the chapel are the only survivors of this former royal convent founded in 1605 by Marie de Medici. The area hosted the priests from the third reform of the Franciscan order, named Recollets. The term comes from the word “Recollecti”: those who meditate. Closed in 1790, the convent was converted into a hospice, then a workshop to spin hemp and cotton, and then finally it became a military hospital in the 19th century. Abandoned in 1968 in a dilapidated state, the place was restored to its former glory thanks to the rehabilitation projects by K. Chartier and T. Corbasson, who chose to highlight the stairs and what remained of the cloister. These elements are now part of the Educational Unit of Architecture-Villemin.