Status Renovated Address 9, rue des Récollets Architectural style Basilica Renovated 1985 | Location Versailles Country France Construction started 1684 Architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart | |
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Owner Minister of Defence of the French Republic Similar Musée Lambinet, Versailles Cathedral, Salle du Jeu de Paume, Théâtre Montansier, Church of Notre‑Dame - Versailles | ||
The Recollects convent was built in 1684 and is located in Versailles, France. Its construction was ordered by Louis XIV for the Franciscan monks who had been chaplaincies of his armies.
Contents
« Recollects » means a branch of the catholic order « the Franciscan » created in 16th century in France, Germany and Holland.
Since the 19th century, the convent has been used by the French army. Today, a plate at the front entrance serves to notify the public of its current occupant, « Service Technique des Bâtiments Fortifications et Travaux », a defense infrastructure office attached to French Minister of Defense.
Consequently, this place is closed to the public, except for certain occasions, like le Mois Molière (annual theater event organized by the city of Versailles).
Localisation
It's current address is as follows:9,rue des Récollets,Versailles,France.It is situated just behind the newly opened space "la Cour des Senteurs".
History
In 1672-1673, as part of the installation preparation of the Court of France in Versailles, Louis XIV decided to demolish the Saint-Julien church, the only church in Versailles at that time, and constructed Saint-Julien for the Recollects in the new town situated on the opposite side of the Palace -today’s Notre-Dame area-.
In 1682, the Court of Louis XIV arrived in Versailles.
In 1682, Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the first architect of the king, constructed the Grand Commun, annex of the Palace on the former location of the first Saint-Julien Church.
In 1684, he started the construction of Notre-Dame church, parish of the Palace and of the new town, on the base of the new Saint-Julien which existed temporary. For the parishioners of the old town, he built this Recollects Convent just behind the Grand Commun. The three bells from the convent are archived at Lambinet Museum in Versailles. "1684" is mentioned on one of the bells (see the image).
In 1789, after the oath at the Royal tennis court (la Salle du Jeu de Paume), the Third estate deputies who had been trying to join the clergies, demanded the monks to apply for asylum, but were refused. They repeated the oath finally at Saint-Louis church (it hadn't been a cathedral yet at that time).
In 1793, the convent was transformed into prison.
In 1796, the building of the basilica which had been about to collapse, was finally demolished except the facade, for constructing a crossing between la rue St Julien (St Julien street) and la rue du Jeu de Paume (Jeu de Paume street). However, this project was never realized.
Since 19th century, it is always part of military domain.
In 1914, the 5th regiment of the engineers left here for the World War II.
In 1985, the front portal of the basilica has been repaired keeping the original sculptures.
In 2001, its territory behind the building became a public park « le Jardin des Récollets » (Recollects park) inaugurated by Etienne Pinte, Deputy-Mayor of Versailles. In 2013, the park was designed newly by Nicola Gilsoul, architect and landscape architect, for the project of the city « la Cour des Senteurs ». Since then, it is called also as « Jardin des Senteurs »(Scent park).