Proposed Foundation 1638 (≈ 1638)
Educational project for girls by sisters.
années 1680
Completion of the east wing
Completion of the east wing années 1680 (≈ 1680)
Major extension of the Conventual Quadrilateral.
1856
West wing renovation
West wing renovation 1856 (≈ 1856)
Intervention by architect Querinec.
5 juillet 2002
Partial registration
Partial registration 5 juillet 2002 (≈ 2002)
Protection of facades and convenual elements.
12 mars 2004
Choir ranking
Choir ranking 12 mars 2004 (≈ 2004)
Decor and furniture classified historical monuments.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The facades and roofs of the four building bodies forming the Conventual Quadrilateral, including the two footbridges established on the east elevation of the east wing, of the whole cloister it contains, including the upper gallery of the north wing, the church, the two wings in return from square to the west forming the entrance courtyard and the courtyard of Sainte-Angèle (excluding the building called the Externate placed in the western end of the wing parallel to the church), the exhibition tower contained in the former sacristy of the south wing, the floors of the courtyards and gardens and the fence walls (Box AV 60, 224): inscription by order of 5 July 2002 - The whole decor of the choir of the nuns and its rostrum, namely the two registries of panels of ground and painted panels that cover the elevations and ceilings, the stalls and the pulpit of the priory, as well as the floor above the choir, the present museum of the community (Box AV 224): classification by decree of 12 March 2004
Key figures
Jean-Baptiste Querinec - Architect
Renovated the west wing in 1856.
Origin and history
The Ursuline convent of Morlaix was built in the 17th century on the site of an old quarry, which influenced its interior and exterior architectural arrangements. In 1638, a proposal for a foundation came from a few sisters in the community of Tréguier, aimed at educating the young girls of the city. The buildings, organized in quadrilateral around a covered cloister, incorporate elements from the 17th and 19th centuries, such as wooden windows added to create dormitories in the attic.
The east wing, completed around the 1680s, and the west wing, taken over in 1856 by architect Jean-Baptiste Querinec, illustrate the evolution of the site. The south wing houses a rare children's exhibition tower, vestige of a discreet abandonment system (wood drum, wrought iron door, bell). The church, rectangular, includes a false transept (Saint Joseph's Chapel) and a choir of nuns connected by a covered gallery.
The choir preserves an exceptional 17th century decor: two rows of carved stalls, a pulpit of priory, and panelling painted in two registers. The side panels evoke the life of Christ and the saints venerated by order, while the ceiling, centered on an oval representing God the Father and the heavenly court, develops the theme of the Trinity in fifteen paintings. These elements, classified in 2004, testify to the artistic and spiritual richness of the convent.
The facades, roofs, cloisters, and courtyard and garden floors have been protected since 2002. The site, owned by an association, now combines historical heritage and contemporary uses (visits, room rental). Its official address, 3 rue des Ursulines, and its Insee code (29151) place it in Finistère, Brittany.
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