Couvent des Ursulines, Saint-Denis, convent located in Seine-Saint-Denis, in France
The Couvent des Ursulines is a stone complex with thick walls and small windows that has stood in Saint-Denis since 1640. The building is arranged around a central courtyard and contains remains of the chapel, a portal with an image of the Virgin and Child from the late 17th century, and a wooden staircase from that period, all now protected.
The convent was founded in 1628 and took its final form with the completion of the chapel in 1641, possibly designed by architect François Mansart. After closure during the French Revolution in 1792, the building served as a warehouse and hospital before being divided into private homes and declared a protected monument in 1986.
The Ursuline sisters created here a center for education and care that served generations of girls and women in the community. The remaining spaces still show how the sisters taught and prayed, shaping visitors' understanding of religious life in those times.
The convent is located on Rue des Ursulines and offers guided tours on weekends; plan enough time to explore the various rooms and courtyard thoroughly. The stairs are original from the 17th century, so be prepared for uneven surfaces and narrow passages.
During the unrest of the Fronde in 1652, King Louis XIV and his mother Queen Anne of Austria sought refuge in the convent, showing how important the place was at that time. Today it remains one of the few places in Saint-Denis where you can see how a religious community lived and worked centuries ago.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
