Couvent des Jacobins

The Couvent des Jacobins is a Dominican convent in Saint-Sever with Gothic architecture featuring a flat chevet church, a broken barrel vault, and a cloister built in pink brick and stone. The structure combines religious building traditions with regional materials that give it a distinctive character.

The convent was founded in 1280 with support from Eleanor of Castile, wife of King Edward I of England, to help control and organize the newly annexed urban area. This connection to English royalty shaped its early religious role.

The convent houses the Museum of Art and History of Cap de Gascogne, displaying regional collections in its north and west wings that reflect the area's artistic heritage.

The monument welcomes visitors during the day at Rue du Général Lamarque in Saint-Sever, with guided tours available during summer afternoons. Plan time to explore the cloister and museum galleries if you want a full picture of the art and regional history on display.

After the French Revolution, this religious building was transformed into multiple facilities including a school, fire station, municipal baths, and agricultural institution. This varied reuse shows how religious buildings adapted to serve new community needs.