Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Benedictine and Ursuline convent, located on Cardinale Street in Aix-en-Provence, was built between the 2nd half of the 17th century and the 1st quarter of the 18th century. This religious monument, characteristic of Provencal limestone architecture, initially housed two distinct communities: the Ursulines (covent des Endrettes, eastern/northern part) and the Benedictines (later taken over by the Visitandines, southwestern part). His spatial organization reflected this duality, with chapels, a cloister, and dedicated rooms such as those of music or the Principal's office. The present facades are the result of the subsequent meeting of these two conventual assemblies.

The French Revolution marked a turning point: the neighbouring royal college, managed successively by the Jesuits (1621-1773) and the Doctrinaires (until 1790), was abolished in 1795 (7 Ventôse An III). The town of Aix acquired the Ursulines buildings in 1812 (northeastern part) and the Visitandines buildings in 1878 (southwestern part) to set up a school. After major work, Mignet High School was officially inaugurated in 1890 under the chairmanship of Sadi Carnot, before becoming a college again in 1976 after the opening of Zola High School. The building has maintained elements classified since 1991, including the historic entrance of Benedictines and a staircase of honour.

The site is closely linked to major cultural figures, having welcomed as students Paul Cézanne, Émile Zola, or Darius Milhaud, and as teachers Marcel Pagnol (English writer) or Maurice Blondel (Professor of Philosophy). These personalities illustrate the central role of the institution in Aixese intellectual life, from its religious origin to its current educational vocation. The eastern pediment of the building, the cloister, and the ancient chapels (that of the intact Ursulines, that of the Benedictines divided into two levels) still bear witness to this composite heritage, where religious, architectural and educational history are mixed.

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