Convent of the Redemptoristines facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Convent of the Redemptoristines |
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Couvent des Rédemptoristines
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Province | Québec |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | convent |
| Year consecrated | 1907 |
| Status | abandoned |
| Location | |
| Municipality | Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré |
| Country | Canada |
 Location in Central Quebec
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| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Georges-Emile Tanguay |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival architecture |
| General contractor | Morissette et Côté |
| Groundbreaking | 1905 |
| Completed | 1907 |
| Materials | brick |
| Official name: Couvent des Rédemptoristines | |
| Designated | 2001 |
| Reference no. | 8687 |
The Convent of the Redemptoristines is a large building in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada. It used to be a home for nuns from the Redemptoristines order. This special building was recognized for its beautiful Gothic Revival architecture and its important role in the area's religious past. It was added to the cultural heritage list of Quebec in 2001.
Over time, fewer women chose to become nuns. Because of this, the number of nuns living at the convent went down. The remaining older nuns moved to a different place in the 1990s. After that, the building was mostly empty. Today, parts of the building are being turned into apartments for people to live in.
History of the Convent
The first Redemptoristine nuns arrived in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in 1905. A few months later, they started building their new home. The convent was finished in 1907. It was a big, three-story building. Nuns lived there until the 1990s.
As years passed, fewer young women decided to become nuns. This meant there were not enough nuns to live in such a large building. Also, the nuns who remained grew older and needed more care. So, they moved to a new place in Sainte-Thérèse, north of Montreal.
For a short time, other religious groups used the convent. But after a few different tenants, the building became empty in 2014.
Why the Convent is Important
The convent was named a heritage site in 2001. This happened because of its important history in the region. Its special architecture also made it stand out. The building was designed in a style called Neo-Gothic. It has three stories and sits on a hill. From the hill, you can see the famous Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré nearby.
The convent is shaped like a "U" and has three main sections. It was built using yellow bricks. The building looks very grand and strong. This was a common style for important buildings back when it was built.
What's Happening Now
By 2014, the owners of the convent, the Redemptorists, found it too expensive to keep the building warm and in good shape. They decided to stop heating it. They only kept up the outside of the building, and the inside started to fall apart.
In 2015, a company tried to buy the convent. They wanted to turn it into a funeral home, but this plan did not work out. Later, another company bought the building. They have started turning one side of the convent into apartments for rent. They plan to do the same with the other side. They also want to change the old chapel into a single, large home with four floors. Their goal is to create twenty-four homes inside the building.
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The chapel
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The entrance
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A hallway
