House with poolTarascon (13)

Price :

$612,500

USD

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Surface226 m²bedrooms7 bathroom1 land210 m²

A 17th-century convent building converted into a house with courtyard garden, swimming pool, independent studio flat and panoramic views in Tarascon. The house is in the immediate vicinity of one of the city's most emblematic religious monuments: the “Chapelle de la Persévérance”. The facade of this place of worship is an iconic example of Baroque architecture, with its segmental arch portal, framed by two pilasters with Ionic capitals featuring garlands of flowers and an entablature with a three-sided architrave, frieze and modillion cornice.
The house and its outbuildings, directly abutting the chapel, leave little doubt as to its original use as a convent.
Indeed, the house still bears some traces of its original vocation, in particular the decorative motifs of the ground floor vaults.
Founded in 1677 as a home for 'girls of ill repute', the chapel and its associated establishment were entrusted to the care of the Sisters of Notre-Dame du Refuge. Like most establishments of this type, created under the royal “in commendam” system, this umpteenth 'convent for repentant girls' was a resounding moral failure and soon became a notorious 'place of perdition'. It took barely half a century for it to evolve from a convent to a brothel. So much so, in fact, that this highly conspicuous place was forced to close by royal decree on the accession of Louis XVI in 1774, a good fifteen years before the Revolution. In 1803, under the First Empire, the modest convent buildings were sold as national property destined to be used as stables. Some of these buildings remain part of the present-day property.
As for the chapel, it was used for the catechism known as 'perseverance', an in-depth teaching of the scriptures that children used to follow after their solemn communion - a history to which its current name bears witness.
Today, contemporary art exhibitions are held here throughout the year, providing a rare opportunity to visit the church and admire its rich Baroque decor.