Reconversion in high school 1904 (≈ 1904)
High school for girls.
3e quart du XIXe siècle
Construction of the chapel
Construction of the chapel 3e quart du XIXe siècle (≈ 1962)
Directed by the architect DUCAT.
20 juillet 1979
Registration of the chapel
Registration of the chapel 20 juillet 1979 (≈ 1979)
Protection for historical monuments.
21 avril 1992
Partial registration of the convent
Partial registration of the convent 21 avril 1992 (≈ 1992)
Portal, cloister and protected buildings.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
High school chapel (AW 2): registration by decree of 20 July 1979; Parts of the former convent: 18th century portal on the rue du Lycée; entrance pavilion, at the corner of the streets of Lycée and Girod-de-Chantrans; buildings surrounding the cloister courtyard: facades, including eight spans of the south façade of the building adjacent to the chapel to the west, roofs, large staircase of the north wing, ground floor of the west wing (currently vaulted kitchen and refectories), vaulted room on the ground floor of the east wing, decoration and fireplace of the 3rd room starting from the north, 18th century fireplace of the 5th room on the second floor of the east wing (Box AW 2): inscription by order of 21 April 1992
Key figures
DUCAT - Architect
Designed the chapel in the 19th century.
Origin and history
The former convent of the Cordeliers de Besançon, located at 4 rue du Lycée in the neighborhood of La Boucle, is an emblematic building of the city. Built in the 18th century, it underwent major transformations in the 3rd quarter of the 19th century, notably with the addition of the high school chapel, carried out by the architect DUCAT. This monument illustrates the architectural and religious evolution of Besançon throughout the centuries, mixing medieval heritage and modern adaptations.
In 1904, the convent was converted to a high school for girls, marking a radical change in its use. The chapel, 19th century architecture, was listed as historical monuments on 20 July 1979. Other elements, such as the 18th century gate, the entrance pavilion and the cloister buildings, were protected on 21 April 1992. These inscriptions highlight the heritage value of the site, both for its history and for its architectural details preserved.
The convent is distinguished by its vaulted spaces, its large staircase and fireplaces of the eighteenth century, testimonies of its monastic past. Today owned by the commune, it combines educational function and historical preservation. Its central location, between the streets of the Lycée and Girod-de-Chantrans, makes it an accessible place and integrated with the urban fabric of Besançon.
Available sources, such as Wikipedia and the Merimée base, confirm its importance in the religious and architectural heritage of Burgundy-Franche-Comté. The convent also embodies the social changes in the region, from a monastic place of life to a school, reflecting the evolution of French society since the 19th century.
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