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Origin and history

In the 13th century, the convent of Laon's Minimes found its origins on the site of the former hospital Saint-Nicolas-de-Cordelle, founded to accommodate poor schoolchildren. In 1235, the establishment, then in decline, was entrusted to the Augustins du Val des Écoliers. The latter build the body of a north-east building, whose capitular room, vaulted with dogives and equipped with a cellar in a cradle, remains the best preserved part. The church, built from 1308, is preceded by a porch in 1480, marking a first phase of architectural development.

At the beginning of the seventeenth century, the Minimes settled on the site in 1610 and began the restoration of the church, then in ruins. After a fire that occurred around 1648, the building was remodelled and redecorated, while the south-east and south-west wings were reconstructed or substantially remodeled in the second half of the century. In 1741, the monumental gate on Rue Vinchon was rebuilt, and the staircase serving the south wing was rebuilt at the end of the 18th century. These transformations reflect the evolution of architectural needs and styles.

The French Revolution marked a turning point in the history of the convent: sold as a national good in 1792, it lost its church in 1795. The site was then reassigned to civilian and military uses: it housed the city's college from 1806 to 1883 and was occupied by the army from 1892. These customary changes illustrate the social and political changes of France, from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era.

The protected elements of the convent, such as the monumental door, the arcades on the courtyard and the vaulted hall of the thirteenth century, testify to its heritage importance. Classified by decree of 24 June 1927, these remains recall its successive role as a place of charity, worship, education and barracks, reflecting almost eight centuries of local and national history.

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