Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The convent of the Annonciades de Bordeaux, founded in 1520 by Jacquette Andron de Lansac, is one of the few Renaissance cloisters preserved in Aquitaine. He followed the rule established by Jeanne de France (1464-1505) and initially welcomed seven nuns from Albi. The chapel, built between 1520 and 1532, was blessed in 1521. Jacquette de Lansac, who had become a widow, financed the works and wished to be buried there, but his tomb would never be installed because of the disturbances of the Wars of Religion.

In 1575, the convent welcomed the Clarisses, exiled after the destruction of their monastery. In the 17th century, after scandals and a relaxation of the rule, Cardinal de Sourdis imposed the closure in 1604. The convent was abolished in 1792 during the Revolution and then transformed into a saltpetriere. In 1808, it was purchased by Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte de Lamourous to become the House of Mercy, a refuge for repentant women, welcoming up to 400 residents in the 19th century.

Ranked a historical monument in 1974, the chapel and part of the cloister are preserved. Since 1995, the site has been home to the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs (DRAC) of New Aquitaine. The Renaissance-style cloister with carved capitals, and the chapel, decorated with coats of arms from the families of Lansac and Pons, bear witness to its rich past. Archaeological excavations in 1991 revealed vestiges of the kitchens and refectory, as well as objects from the 16th to 18th centuries.

The Tomb of Christ, carved between 1526 and 1530 and probably offered by Jacquette de Lansac, is a major work of the convent. It presents a composition similar to that of Biron Castle, today at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The arch keys, decorated with the coat of arms of the founding families, and the galleries of the cloister, decorated with fantastic plant and animal motifs, illustrate the influence of the regional Romanesque style.

The architecture of the convent, marked by construction campaigns in the 16th and 17th centuries, combines Renaissance elements and subsequent additions. The monumental portal, dating from 1774, and the 19th century stained glass windows in the abside complete this heritage. After its conversion to DRAC, the site combines historical heritage and modernity, with contemporary extensions in metal, glass and wood.

Future

In 1995 the services of the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs of Aquitaine were established.

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