Ancien couvent de l'Ordre de Notre-Dame
MonumentHidden Treasure
Ancien couvent de l'Ordre de Notre-Dame, located in Sarlat-la-Canéda (Dordogne), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Sarlat-la-Canéda, Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 44.8902, 1.2194
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00082925
In the heart of Sarlat, this former 17th-century convent conceals a remarkable three-flight Louis XIII staircase and a tumultuous history combining faith, the Fronde and the Revolution.
History
Nestling in the medieval fabric of Sarlat-la-Canéda, the former convent of the Order of Notre-Dame is one of the most discreet and endearing examples of Baroque religious architecture in Périgord Noir. Built in the 17th century on the Place de la Bouquerie, this sober, elegant edifice reflects the spirit of the Counter-Reformation: an architecture at the service of the educational mission, sober in its exterior expression but meticulous in its interior layout. What makes this monument truly unique is the quality of its Louis XIII staircase, a veritable architectural gem hidden behind a modest façade. Turning right over three straight flights with rests forming an angle, this staircase serves the three floors of the east building up to the attic, revealing a technical mastery and a sense of representation typical of the craftsmen of the early 17th century. The arrangement of the two main sections of the building at right-angles to each other gives the whole complex a spatial coherence that is rare for a convent building of this scale. To visit this site is to cross several centuries of Sarlacan history in just a few steps: from the fervour of the nuns of Notre-Dame to the harshness of the revolutionary gendarmerie, the Périgord limestone walls have absorbed lives, prayers and upheavals. The attentive visitor will be able to read in the layout of the rooms and the quality of the woodwork the ambitions of a community that placed the education of women at the heart of its vocation. Sarlat, the best-preserved town of the French Middle Ages, provides an exceptional setting for this monument. Just a stone's throw from the cathedral of Saint-Sacerdos and the golden streets of the old town, also listed as a Historic Monument, the former convent is a natural part of a heritage walk that has made Sarlat a must-see destination in the Périgord. The ochre limestone of the facades, bathed in south-westerly light, lends the building a timeless warmth.
Architecture
The former convent of the Order of Notre-Dame belongs to the sober, functional trend in French conventual architecture of the 17th century, influenced by Tridentine prescriptions that favoured clarity and dignity over ostentation. The building is laid out on a square-headed plan, a classic layout for convents of the period, allowing the community living areas to be organised around an inner courtyard, while separating the educational functions from the areas given over to prayer and monastic life. The facades, built of limestone typical of the Périgord Noir region, are carefully and regularly dressed, reflecting the skills of local stonemasons. The soberly framed openings are arranged in rhythmic bays over the three levels of the main building. The most remarkable architectural feature is undoubtedly the Louis XIII staircase serving the east wing. Turning to the right over three perfectly straight flights, the staircase features rests that form a square return, an arrangement that optimises vertical circulation while providing generous landings for communal exchanges. Its decorative grammar, typical of the Louis XIII style - turned balusters, sculpted stringers, elaborate wooden balustrades - makes this staircase an exceptional document of the Périgord decorative arts of the early 17th century. The fact that the staircase reaches all the way up to the roof of the building bears witness to a coherent, integrated approach to the living spaces of the religious community.
Related Figures
Jeanne de Lestonnac — fondatrice de l'Ordre de Notre-Dame en 1608, nièce de Montaigne, canonisée en 1949L'évêque de Sarlat (vers 1671) — prêta son château de Temniac aux religieuses durant les travaux d'agrandissementMichel de Montaigne — philosophe et oncle de la fondatrice, dont l'influence intellectuelle imprègne la spiritualité de l'OrdreLes religieuses de Domme — premières implantations régionales de l'Ordre avant le transfert à Sarlat en 1637
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ancien couvent de l'Ordre de Notre-Dame located?
Ancien couvent de l'Ordre de Notre-Dame is located in Sarlat-la-Canéda, Dordogne department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Ancien couvent de l'Ordre de Notre-Dame built?
Ancien couvent de l'Ordre de Notre-Dame dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Ancien couvent de l'Ordre de Notre-Dame open to visitors?
Ancien couvent de l'Ordre de Notre-Dame is currently closed to visitors.
