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The former convent is now a major exhibition venue, and also offers a fascinating tour of the Joyeuse Prison.
Once a convent for Dominican nuns, this beautifully restored 16th and 17th century timber-framed building is yet another reason to visit Pont-l'Évêque! Now an exhibition space, it features a permanent exhibition on the town's history. Conferences and various activities for children also punctuate the current events at the Dominicaines, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2025. There's also a garden of medicinal plants, recreated in memory of the Dominican nuns who used them to treat the ailments of the time.
But that's not all! An art library allows you to rent (by appointment) contemporary works of art by artists such as Jacques Pasquier, Joan Miro, Ernest Pignon-Ernest, Paul Rebeyrolle, Pierre Alechinsky and Francis Bacon. Imagine the next canvas, print or photograph to grace your living room! And there are over 200 works!
And don't miss the guided tour of the "Joyeuse Prison" (reservation required) on rue Eugène-Pian, which is sure to delight your guests. Built in 1823 in a neo-classical style, the Pont-l'Évêque prison made history when René Girier, known as René la Canne, was arrested in 1951 following his escape. It has to be said that the management of the Pont-l'Évêque prison was not exactly rigorous! An astonishing visit to a prison that has remained intact since its closure in 1953.
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