Les Dominicaines
About Les Dominicaines
Les Dominicaines is a cultural center and art library housed in a 16th-17th century former Dominican convent, featuring remarkable timber-framed Norman architecture. The venue hosts rotating exhibitions of visual arts, heritage, and history, alongside a permanent exhibition tracing Pont-l'Évêque's development through interactive displays with models, touchscreens, and videos. The art library holds approximately 450 contemporary works by artists including Joan Miró, Francis Bacon, and Pierre Alechinsky, available for rental by local residents. Outside, a recreated medicinal garden showcases plants the Dominican sisters once used to treat the community. Guided tours of the adjacent "Joyeuse Prison" (19th-century detention facility built on former convent grounds) are available with advance booking. The convent was founded in 1645 by two sisters from Rouen and housed Dominican nuns for 150 years until the French Revolution. Hours vary seasonally, with extended summer hours and annual closure from mid-December to late January.
Interesting Facts
The two founding sisters, Marguerite and Marie Pillon de Berthouville, arrived in Pont-l'Évêque in 1645 in "extreme poverty," initially renting a small house on Rue Saint-Mélaine. Their piety attracted so many young women that within decades the convent expanded to cover 5 hectares in the town center.
The art library operates an unusual service: local residents can rent original works by world-renowned artists like Joan Miró and Francis Bacon to display in their homes. The collection of approximately 450 pieces has been growing since 2002.
The building's street-facing timber-framed facade was officially designated a Historic Monument on February 9, 1927, protecting this remarkable example of 16th-17th century Norman architecture from demolition or alteration.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Ticket Prices
General Admission
RecommendedLocation & Practical Info
Address
Place du Tribunal, 14130 Pont-l'Évêque, France
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