Former monastery of the Carmel of Jesus-Maria:
Set of remarkably preserved conventual buildings dating mainly from the 17th and 19th centuries, occupied successively by the Capuchin friars and the Carmelite nuns.
The Order of Carmel is a Catholic contemplative order founded in the 12th century by Crusaders who became hermits on the slopes of Mount Carmel (Israel). In the 16th century, Saint Teresa of Avila reformed the Order from her Spanish monastery. It returns to a primitive form of the Rule. This reform spread rapidly in various European countries, including France, from the beginning of the 17th century. In 1636, ten sisters arrived from the monastery of Amiens to found that of Abbeville. Guided by Reverend Mother Anne of Jesus-Maria, from whom the new monastery takes its name, they settled in rue Saint-Gilles where they lived cloistered.
During the French Revolution, the Carmelites were expelled from their monastery and partly succeeded in continuing to live in community at Abbeville. After many moves, they acquired, at the beginning of the 19th century, the former convent of the Capuchin friars to rebuild their community there. Mother Saint-Augustin, superior of the Abbeville Carmelites, decided to settle there with her sisters on August 10, 1821. Major works were then carried out to transform the site into a regular Carmel. The construction of the chapel is a priority (that of the Capuchins having been destroyed between 1793 and 1795). Large enclosure walls surrounding the gardens were erected in 1842. In 1873, several dilapidated walls of the convent buildings were completely rebuilt in brick. Only the west facade, in sandstone dating from the 17th century, has almost retained its original appearance. Finally, the cloister was built during the 1870s.
The Carmelites lived here until 1998. They were then no longer numerous enough and too old to continue living in such large spaces (approximately 9000 m²) and come together with other communities. The city of Abbeville is acquiring the entire property. It has dedicated it to knowledge and enhancement of the territory's heritage since 2011.
The high architectural quality and remarkable conservation of the site, as well as its rich history, have been recognized by the Ministry of Culture in October 2021. The site has since been fully listed as a Historic Monument.
