Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house of clarisses of Lons-le-Saunier found its origins in a convent founded in 1294, rebuilt several times after fires, especially in 1637. The site, located on the right bank of Solvan, included a church, an abbey building, and houses aligned to the north. These successive reconstructions (XVI century, then from 1647 to 1670) marked its architectural and religious evolution.

In 1757, Hélène Alexandrine Moreau de Bernay, benefactor, acquired the land and financed the construction of a double house on one floor, including a garden and communes. This project was part of a broader context where, during the 2nd half of the 18th century, the canonesses built private houses with gardens around the courtyard of the convent. One delle, dated 1775, illustrates this transformation period.

The French Revolution marked a turning point: in 1795, the canonical houses were nationalized and sold, while the chapel and the buildings of the chapter were destroyed to create the present Bichat Square. The preserved house, with its interior decorations (marble fireplaces, panelling, painted canvases), was classified as Historic Monument by order of 27 March 2000, bearing witness to this hybrid heritage, both religious and residential.

Today located in 3 Bichat Square, the building retains remarkable architectural and decorative elements, although its exact location is considered to be of poor accuracy (note 5/10). Its history reflects the social and urban changes of Lons-le-Saunier, between monastic heritage and secular adaptation.

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