Old convent of the Récollets

That charming enclosed bridge spanning the street is all that remains of the former Récollets convent. The Récollets were part of a reform movement within the Franciscan order—a mendicant community that lived entirely on charity. They became especially known for their missionary work in the New World, particularly in Quebec and across South America. The order disappeared during the upheaval of the French Revolution. The convent itself dates back to the 17th century and, rather unusually, was built largely from wood—a material officially banned after the great fire of 1661. Yet it still stands today, or at least what remains of it: the bridge, the courtyard gate, the façade, and a few traces of the cloister. These vestiges have been protected as historic monuments since 1946.