Shadow Dragon

Couvent des Carmélites

October 2026 | France | Ruinous

A fire damaged 17th century convent and school in Brittany…

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HISTORY: Founded on the 15th of October 1627, the Couvent des Carmélites is a fantastic example of 17th century Renaissance architecture. It housed Carmelite nuns, and consisted of a large cloister and gath with an attached chapel in the early Classical style. Building works started in 1630 and were largely finished by 1645. Since the French Revolution, the convent buildings have had various uses: a prison and a school. The nuns were expelled in 1792 and the buildings seized and sold as “national goods”. In 1811, monastic life restarted – it was given to Ursuline nuns who opened a school for poor girls in the buildings.

In 1932, the buildings became the home of a private secondary school. In 1944, the buildings were hit by Allied bombs during the Second World War due to the proximity of a strategically important railway line which the Germans were using for transport. In 1959, work started on a modern extension to increase the capacity of the school. This was finished in 1961. On the 2nd of March 2006, the 17th century buildings were deliberately set on fire by kids and 75% of the structures (including the chapel) were destroyed. Since then the building has lain derelict. However in 2021, work started on restoring the chapel and chapter house. They are now used as events centres. The rest of the buildings however still lie derelict.

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THE EXPLORE: After having dinner in Ploërmel earlier, Landie_Man and I decided to have a snoop at the buildings in the gathering darkness. We eventually found an entrance and I went into a maze of trees and debris on the floor. It took me a minute to notice that it was unstable debris above a very deep cellar. A very very unstable pile of debris. So unstable that it started collapsing under me. I hurriedly exited and not a second after I did the sound of collapsing floors could be heard. Please note that this site is an absolute death trap.

We ventured further and found a perfect access that gave us an entry into a far less dangerous section. We entered and we mooched around and decided to come back the morning afterwards. We came back as scheduled and began shooting away. Despite how ruined it was, the building has some rather nice shots. Enjoy the photos!

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