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Origin and history

The Institution Saint-Gabriel de Châtellerault originated in a mansion built in the early 16th century. This building, marked by architectural elements of the first Renaissance, is distinguished in particular by a square tower housing a spiral staircase. The bays on the ground floor, on the other hand, date from the early eighteenth century, reflecting a stylistic evolution over the centuries. The ensemble forms a U-shaped plane, with wings added to the 19th century overlooking an inner courtyard.

In 1824 Abbé Arnaudeau, then vicar of the parish of Saint-Jacques de Châtellerault, initiated the creation of Christian schools by transferring part of his heritage. The buildings on Rue Saint-Jacques and des Fronteaux are entrusted to the brothers of Saint-Gabriel for the education of boys, while those on Rue de Sully, including parts of the sixteenth century, become the institution Notre-Dame for girls, managed by the sisters of the Wisdom of Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre. This school complex is part of a movement to develop Catholic education in the 19th century.

The main house body has a ground floor, a floor and a storey under the roof covered with slates, pierced by vast skylights. The frame, with firm chevrons, and the rear facade have partially lost their original characteristics. Only the square tower retains significant traces of the Renaissance. In 2004, the façade on street and the roofs were inscribed in the Historical Monuments, thus protecting part of this architectural and educational heritage.

The institution illustrates the adaptive reuse of a Renaissance hotel in a school, reflecting the social and religious changes of the 19th century. Today, the site remains linked to an association, although its access to the public (visits, rentals) is not specified in the available sources. The location at 12 Sully Street in Châtellerault is attested, but its geographical accuracy is considered poor (level 5/10).

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