Couvent des Anglaises

The Couvent des Anglaises at Rue des Tanneries is a religious building with traditional 17th-century architecture that includes cells and a cloister for monastic life. The complex displays the organized layout of a Benedictine community, with dedicated spaces for prayer and communal activities.

Seven English Benedictine nuns founded the convent in 1664 after fleeing religious persecution and settling in the Paris district. The community became a refuge for those seeking to maintain their monastic practices away from turmoil.

The convent maintains Benedictine traditions that shape how the community gathers for prayer and religious ceremonies each day. Visitors walking through the spaces can sense this spiritual rhythm that has defined the place for centuries.

Access to the convent is not freely available and requires advance arrangements directly with the community. Interested visitors should contact ahead to arrange tours or visits with the resident nuns.

During the French Revolution, the convent served as a detention center and held various prisoners including political figures. This dramatic transformation shows how religious sites were repurposed during periods of upheaval.