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Base Mérimée: Monuments historiques · France

Ancien couvent des Visitandines

Limoges, Haute-Vienne, France

The record

Designation
Historic monument, registered (inscrit), in part
Protection
inscrit MH partiellement
Extent of protection
La chapelle de la Visitation, le cloître et la porte sur cour (cad. DN 45, 96) : inscription par arrêté du 16 septembre 1949
Protection dates
1949/09/16 : inscrit MH
Type
couvent
Main period of construction
17e siècle, 18e siècle
Dates
1775
Ownership
propriété du département, propriété de la commune
Address
13 rue François-Chénieux
Commune
Limoges
Département
Haute-Vienne
Region
Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Country
France
Coordinates
45.83365, 1.25552
Mérimée reference
PA00100339

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1607 map "Poictou" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).

Get directions ↗

This record on the Ministère de la Culture's POP platform ↗

The Ministère de la Culture's notice

La communauté des Visitandines s'installa sur cet emplacement en 1643. La démolition de certains bâtiments vétustes, leur reconstruction et des embellissements furent entrepris vers 1770. La nouvelle chapelle, commencée en 1771, fut consacrée en 1775. Elle servit successivement de prison, dépôt, salle de réunion, magasin d'intendance. La chapelle est séparée de la rue par un large perron à double révolution, à paliers intermédiaires sur lesquels s'ouvraient les deux entrées du couvent. La façade est percée d'une porte encadrée de pilastres doriques cannelés, supportant un entablement surmonté d'un fronton triangulaire dont le tympan porte l'insigne de la communauté. La chapelle, de plan circulaire, est prolongée par un sanctuaire. Des renfoncements sur les murs de façade et latéraux, amorcent la croix. Quatre niches allègent les murs. Au nord du sanctuaire, le choeur relie l'église au cloître qui a conservé son aspect initial. Trente-deux arcades plein cintre à piliers carrés s'ouvrent sur une cour. Dans une cour secondaire s'ouvre une porte plein cintre semblant appartenir au 17e siècle, encadrée de deux pilastres supportant un fronton triangulaire.

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

The community of Visitandines settled on this site in 1643. The demolition of certain dilapidated buildings, their reconstruction and embellishments were undertaken circa 1770. The new chapel, begun in 1771, was consecrated in 1775. It served successively as a prison, depot, meeting hall, supply store. The chapel is separated from the street by a large double revolution perron, with intermediate landings on which opened the two entrances of the convent. The façade is pierced by a door framed by fluted Doric pilasters, supporting an entablature surmounted by a triangular pediment whose tympanum bears the insignia of the community. The chapel, of circular plan, is extended by a sanctuary. Recesses on the front and side walls mark the beginning of the cross. Four niches lighten the walls. North of the sanctuary, the choir connects the church to the cloister which has retained its original appearance. Thirty-two round arch arcades with square pillars open onto a courtyard. In a secondary courtyard opens a round arch door appearing to belong to the 17th century, framed by two pilasters supporting a triangular pediment.

Nearby in the register

Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.

Base Mérimée, Ministère de la Culture, data last updated 2026-09-17, reused under the Licence Ouverte / Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab). Record text is reproduced unchanged. Ministère de la Culture · Licence Ouverte 2.0
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