Résidence des Récollets

The Résidence des Récollets in Paris's 10th arrondissement is a historic complex that originally served as a monastery for the Franciscan Recollects. With the permission of Henry IV, the friars settled at the corner of Rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin and Rue des Récollets in the early 17th century, not far from today's Gare de l'Est. The land was donated to them by private individuals, after which a church and monastery buildings were constructed. The community grew considerably in the 18th century and owned a significant library as well as a collection of paintings. After the French Revolution, the site served a variety of purposes, including as barracks, a poorhouse, and a spinning mill, before being used as a hospital for incurably ill men from 1802 and later as a military hospital.

Today the landmark building houses La Maison de l'architecture, a center for architectural exchange. Besides the offices of the Île-de-France chamber of architects, it offers housing for international researchers and artists. You can explore the restored rooms, which regained their historic character through a careful renovation in the early 21st century. Architectural highlights include the neoclassical portal of the chapel, the surviving arcades of the former cloister, and the long garden facade with its round-arched windows. Inside, historic details such as a wrought-iron railing and a wooden staircase with turned balusters are worth admiring and recall the rich history of the place.