Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The building at the 2nd Carmelite Pass in Rennes dates from 1666 and constituted the entrance to the Carmelite convent. Its architecture was distinguished by a cut panel adorned with a gate in the middle of a wall, framed by doric pilasters and surmounted by a carved frieze. Three curved niches completed this facade, while a statue of the Virgin, added in 1734 after a vow, dominated the whole. This portal, classified as a historical monument in 1969 for its cut and roof, symbolized the religious heritage of the city.

During the Revolution, the convent was transformed into a branch, then into a Major Seminary from 1820, before building the Faculty of Letters from 1906. The construction of Hoche Square changed its access role. Despite its registration as a historical monument on 30 April 1969, the portal collapsed in 1972 during restoration work, causing the death of two workers. Raymond Cornon, chief architect of historical monuments, then decided to demolish it to replace it with a modern building.

The disappearance of this portal marks the end of a major architectural testimony from the 17th century Rennes, linked to the religious, educational and industrial history of the city. The sources, including Wikipedia and the Merimée base, confirm its exact address (2 Carmelite passage) and its Insee code (35238), highlighting its anchoring in the local heritage.

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