Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The convent of the Visitation of Autun, located on Rue aux Raz, was founded by Sainte-Jeanne-de-Chantal in 1626. This religious monument, emblematic of the 2nd half of the 17th century, embodies the Christian architecture of the period and the influence of the Order of Visitation, created at the beginning of the century for women wishing to live a contemplative spirituality while remaining active in society.

During the French Revolution, the convent was requisitioned and turned into a prison, reflecting the political and religious upheavals of that period. In 1810, after the sale of the monastery to the city, he became a barracks, marking a radical change of vocation. These transformations illustrate the forced adaptability of religious buildings under successive regimes.

At the end of the 19th century, the convent was attributed to the Institution Saint-Lazare, a private school, and underwent major architectural changes. This work, although partially modifying its original structure, allowed its preservation until its partial classification to the historical monuments in 1994 (facades and roofs of the seventeenth century). Today, the site remains linked to an association and retains a heritage and memorial dimension.

Among the notable figures, Françoise de Rabutin-Chantal (1599–84), daughter of Saint Jeanne de Chantal and aunt of Madame de Sévigné, attended the convent. Its tomb, located in the chapel, bears witness to the close links between this noble family and the Order of the Visitation. This detail underlines the importance of the convent as a place of devotion and burial for the local aristocracy.

The building, partially protected, is distinguished by its historic address (14 rue aux Raz) and its variable conservation state, assessed at a "a priori satisfactory" location (note 6/10). The available sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum) confirm its role both religious, military and educational over the centuries, while highlighting the challenges of its preservation.

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