Ancien prieuré de bénédictins Notre-Dame, tribunal et école de musique

English translation

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History

The priory of the Benedictines of Vitré is a very important building in the town. Erected at the highest point of the walled town and above the valley of the Vilaine, it imposes itself on the view from the northern districts and at the entrance to the town from the roads coming from that direction. Become urban because of the extension of the town, and for this reason able to be considered as a convent, it is at the heart of the walled town (protected sector) and forms an ensemble with the church Notre-Dame (Mérimée notice PA00090899). It is an urban monastery of the 17th century comprising a cloister on a square plan opened by five round arch arcades on each side; the cloister galleries are not in lean-to form but integrated into the four wings (the south wing is very small; it presents an outbuilding extension towards the east for the gate lodge). The whole is connected to the choir of the church Notre-Dame by the sacristy. The buildings are characterised by a concern for symmetry and sobriety typical of the Congregation of Saint-Maur which had them erected. In the 19th century, the roof spaces of the west, south and east wings are redone, a park replaces the vegetable garden to the west, a Neo-Renaissance pediment struck with the arms of the town underlines the entrance of the east wing, the ceiling and doors giving onto the cloister are redone in the Napoleon III style. Inside, on the ground floor of the north wing, a panelled room is classified as a movable object.