21.5.08

Port Royal - a cloister

Paris used to be full of cloisters. You don’t find many anymore and it’s hard to guess that this one, Port Royal, used to be one. It’s today actually part of a hospital, Hôpital Baudeloque.















This is what you see from the outside, if you only pass by.

The cloister was built around 1640, was closed as a convent during the Revolution and for a short period even used as a prison. Among others, Malesherbes spent his last days here before passing by the guillotine. In 1795 the place was transformed into a place for “found children” and it became a maternity in the beginning of the 19th century. Today this building houses administrative offices and is surrounded by some more modern facilities.
The place is not really open to public, but you can rather easily walk in here and (despite its somewhat chaotic history) feel the peaceful atmosphere and at the moment also admire the roses.

Some of these pictures can be seen on my photo-blog.

24 comments:

lyliane six said...

Je reviens pour apprendre que tu es au cloître maintenant! Mais non Peter, sors de là, viens à la maison y a le printemps qui chante et tous tes amis t'attendent.
Trève de plaisanterie, je préfère te savoir rue des moines.
Je vais m'atteler à lire tous tes posts qui me font de plus en plus envie de venir voir Paris et te dire j'aime Paris au mois de mai surtout à travers tes photos et tes explications.
Bises à bientôt.

stromsjo said...

The roses look like reason enough for stopping by.

Olivier said...

voila une vision très bucolique de Panam, surtout ce petit jardin intérieur avec de superbes fleurs. En le voyant comme cela, j'aurais plus tôt parié sur un manoir que sur un cloître.

Alain said...

Je ne connaissais pas du tout cet endroit ; il faudra que tu m'explique comment on peut y rentrer : tu as soudoyé la soeur tourière ?
Les buis taillés en pointe cela fait un peu riquiqui, mais il y a les rosiers et les batiments sont magnifiques.

alice said...

Je vais de surprise en surprise en essayant de te suivre, mais ces derniers jours j'ai manqué de temps...Lyliane a raison, Paris en mai est très attirant!

claude said...

Quel endroit merveilleux ! Paris recèle de vrais trésors.Jardins magnifiques !

hpy said...

Tu ouvres des portes vers des endroits insoupçonnés. (Ne suis-je pas gentille, là?)

Bettina said...

Lovely photos Peter. This place doesn't look like it's in Paris, it's more like a place in the country. That's what so fascinating about Paris, it's got it all.
I like the way you post more photos from the same place/area. And they always makes me want to go there.

Anonymous said...

tu découvres toujours ds merveilles

Azer Mantessa said...

yes, the place looks peaceful with nice lil garden in between.

i like the corridor.

Noushy Syah said...

You're right,the blue roof looks outstanding,peaceful ambience and lovely garden.

p/s hehhehe...you read my mind! Nervous,anxious + exciting - mix feelings for tonite!

Anonymous said...

I like those blue and yellow shades. And yes, so many purposes over the years. At least it hasn't gone to disrepair.

Anonymous said...

It is hard for me to imagine anything that looks old or from another century being a hospital or school or business. Yet the photos you show all are of something modern in something older.

Here, nowadays, the emphasis it to make old things look new, slick, and modern. They cover up brick buildings with foam covered with a skim coat of cement, for example.

Your place was built in 1640 and was a convent, a prison, children's home, a maternity, and now administrative offices.

I think this is amazing.

PeterParis said...

lyliane:
Si je peux éviter la vie monacale...!

per:
Yes, certainly a good reason!

olivier:
Pourtant!

Ming the Merciless said...

Absolutely beautiful! It resembles Place de Voges in the Marais, n'est pas?

I didn't venture too far from the tower in Montparnasse. I was going to Le Bon Marche when I decided to walk further east to Montparnasse.

Maxime said...

Cela m'a l'air d'être un bon endroit pour pic-niquer loin de la foule...

yoko said...

Your blog is my daily routine now.
Thank you for interesting Paris Scenes. Which area (arrondissement) you are staying in Paris?
I wish I understand French more.

Yoko

PeterParis said...

alain:
On rentre, c'est tout (et espère que personne pose des questions)!

alice:
Paris a sons charme TOUS les mois!

claude:
Tu as bien raison!

PeterParis said...

hpy
N'es-tu pas toujours gentille?

bettina:
I understand you are more or less on your way!

lasiate:
Il y en a beaucoup!

PeterParis said...

azer:
It IS peaceful (today)!

noushy:
When I write this, I know the result! Sorry!

ruth:
Yes, fortunately still there!

PeterParis said...

abraham:
Luckily some old buildings remain. A lot was changed during the latter part of the 19th century ... but the Haussmann city planning has also its charm and was probably necessary.

ming:
Place des Vosges in a smaller scale and without shops, galleries bars, restaurants...

maxime:
Je ne suis pas persuadé qu'on al droit de picniquer ici! :-)

PeterParis said...

yoko:
Welcome! I live in the 17th arrondissement, but I visit all the others - also!

Shionge said...

Peter, I just wanna know with so many old buildings, is there a council or govt bodies that look after and maintain them? They are awesome!!

Cergie said...

Autrefois n’était pas comme aujourd’hui (truisme), les religieux ne faisaient pas vœu de pauvreté.
Ma tante sœur blanche avait à sa disposition à Lyon des bâtiments somptueux immenses avec parc que les sœurs ne pouvaient plus entretenir et où elles se sentaient un peu perdues vu leur petit nombre actuel. Des lieux somptueux, mais elles n’étaient pas propriétaires de leur chambre, ni même locataires, juste comme dans un hôtel, en instance, avec un lit, une valise, une table, une chaise.