Ancient Couvent des Cordelières, Broca hospital

A rectangular area planted with trees reminds one of the ancient cloisters, previously on a large scale, consisting of large three-pointed vaulted arches, decorated with a geometric and floral pattern. All that remains of the cloisters are fragments of two of the four galleries. One consisted of a row of fine columns and monoliths placed on an octagonal base. The other now has seven columns built using layers of several blocks of stone, more robust, including the base and the capital created with flattened scrolls.

Historical
The Cordelières community was founded in 1270 following the rule of St. Francis his nuns moved to Paris in 1289, on the exact site of the existing Broca hospital. The widow of St. Louis built the Royal foundation at the end of the 13th century, the monastery was in a Gothic style (like the Sainte Chapelle). The history of the place was not very happy: the building suffered from numerous floods, due to the Bievre and was looted by the royal troops in 1590 during the siege of Paris by Henry IV. Cancelled during the Revolution, the convent was sold in different plots, which served in the 19th century as a shelter, hospice and wool-manufacturing factory. It took until 1836 to see these buildings converted into a hospital, but they were unfortunately destroyed in 1973 due to their obsolescence. From this convent, all that remains is a portion of the church’s transept and some columns from the cloister.