Couvent des Ursulines de Paris, 17th-century convent in 5th arrondissement, France.
The Couvent des Ursulines de Paris is a 17th-century convent complex in the Latin Quarter, built in 1620 with architectural features typical of that period. The compound consists of several interconnected building wings organized around inner courtyards.
The convent was founded in 1620 by Madeleine Luillier de Sainte-Beuve and became a central hub for the Ursuline order across France. It remained a key educational and religious center in the Latin Quarter through the following centuries.
The convent served as a place where girls from both wealthy families and poorer neighborhoods received education together, a progressive approach for its era. This dual mission shaped how the space functioned within the local community.
The grounds are located near the intersection of Rue des Ursulines and Rue Gay-Lussac, making it easy to access on foot from nearby metro stations. Parts of the former complex now serve other purposes, which can help you navigate and understand the current layout.
Within the convent grounds sits the Studio des Ursulines, one of Paris's oldest single-screen cinemas, which continues to operate today. This cinema preserves a rare film tradition in the city while also making use of the historic space.
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