Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The door of the former Carmelite convent in Angoulême dates from the 4th quarter of the 17th century, although its architectural style may evoke an earlier era. It is distinguished by an opening in full hanger, framed by pilasters and bosses, with a sculpted key of a sheet of acanthe. A pediment topped by an open pediment houses a niche, itself topped by a second pediment that passes through a base with a missing figure. The decorations of foliage on the entably emphasize its late baroque character.

The Carmelites moved to Angoulême in 1633, rue de Turenne, before extending their convent eastward in 1739, when this gate was supposedly built. Its initial location probably marked the main entrance to the convent, as evidenced by its inscription in the inventory of Historic Monuments in 1925 for its heritage value. Today, the door remains as a rare example of civil religious architecture of that time in the region.

Ranked for its decorative elements (pillars, frontons, niche), the door illustrates the influence of religious orders on the urban planning of Angoulême in the 17th and 18th centuries. Its current state, although partial (the summital figure has disappeared), makes it possible to appreciate the know-how of local artisans made of cut stone. The accuracy of its location remains medium (note 6/10), with a historic address on rue Turenne and a GPS approximation on rue Bouillaud.

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