The Franciscan Convent (Les Franciscaines)
About The Franciscan Convent (Les Franciscaines)
Les Franciscaines is a cultural center housed in a former Franciscan convent built in 1876 in neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque style. The 6,500 m² complex originally served as an orphanage run by Franciscan nuns, later becoming a military hospital during World War I and then a housekeeping school. In 2021, after a major renovation by Moatti & Rivière architects, it reopened as an integrated cultural space combining the André Hambourg Museum (featuring over 3,800 works including paintings by Boudin, Dufy, and Signac), a media library with 70,000 documents, a performance hall in the former chapel, and a FabLab. The central cloister features a striking glass roof with a chandelier made of 14,285 polycarbonate tubes. Visitors can explore five thematic universes covering Deauville's history, equestrian heritage, cinema, art of living, and youth activities. The on-site café Le Réfectoire offers refreshments. Closed on Mondays and during three weeks in January. Book tickets online only - phone and email reservations are not accepted.
Interesting Facts
During World War I, the convent was transformed into Military Auxiliary Hospital No. 16 under the Red Cross. From 1916, it specialized in treating eye injuries, becoming one of France's pioneering ophthalmology centers. The hospital treated over 1,000 wounded soldiers between 1914 and 1919.
Three sisters from the Somme region—Adèle, Joséphine, and Marie-Antoinette Mérigault—founded the institution in 1875. The first stone was laid in 1877 with a relic of Saint Francis of Assisi embedded in the foundation, establishing the building's Franciscan identity before any nuns had even arrived.
The renovation introduced an innovative 'ribbon of knowledge' design concept: a continuous serpentine bookshelf that winds throughout the entire building. This ribbon serves triple duty as book display, artwork hanging space, and room divider, eliminating traditional barriers between library and museum spaces.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Ticket Prices
All Exhibitions Pass
RecommendedLocation & Practical Info
Address
145 B Avenue de la République, 14800 Deauville, France
Website
https://lesfranciscaines.frDay Routes
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