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Origin and history

The convent of the Visitation of Montpellier, founded in 1631 by Bishop Pierre de Fenouillet, follows the architectural model of the Visitandines of Annecy. This monastery, one of the few in Montpellier to fully preserve its four-gallery cloister and chapel, embodies the medieval tradition adapted to the needs of the religious order. The works, carried out between 1633 and 1698, include a church with a single nave and a square choir, vaulted with brick and stone warheads, completed in 1651.

The convent buildings, designed by Jean Bonnassier between 1650 and 1656, incorporate a bell tower erected in 1675 by Antoine Armand. The cloister is completed in the same period. In the 19th century, stands were added to the chapel during renovations. In 1956, part of the convent was sold to the University of Montpellier, integrating the western building with the Faculty of Law, designed by Marcel Bernard. The old church was listed as a Historic Monument in 1989.

The convent illustrates post-Tridentine religious architecture, combining monastic functionality and sober aesthetics. His cloister, inspired by medieval models, reflects the bishop's desire to create a place of recollection and prayer for the Visitandines. The chapel, with its square choir and arches in warheads, bears witness to the constructive techniques of the seventeenth century, mixing brick and cut stone. The subsequent adaptation of the fora in the 19th century shows the evolution of the uses of religious space.

The location of the convent, between the streets of the University and Arc-des-Mourgues, underlines its anchoring in the Montpellieran urban fabric. Its partial integration into the University in the 20th century marked a transition to secular use, while preserving its architectural heritage. Today, the site remains a testament to Montpellier's religious and urban history, between monastic heritage and university modernity.

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