A local’s guide to visiting the former Abbey of Port Royal in the 14th Arrondissement of Paris; a secret place in Paris, and one of the only cloisters!
In some of Paris’s many hospitals, you can find secret gems like the Former Abbey of Port Royal, one of the most beautiful historical sites I have ever seen in the city.
Today we find ourselves in the 14th arrondissement, where many secret spots, village-like places, colorful streets like 42 Rue de l’Ouest, and unique shops like Aussi all live together.
I am taking you to a jewel of French religious architecture, which was once the urban headquarters of a movement that nearly tore the French Catholic Church apart.
Former Abbey of Port Royal: A Secret Cloister in Paris 14
The Former Abbey of Port Royal is completely free to visit.
You’ll find it inside Cochin Hospital, and you can simply ask at the entrance to access the garden – just like the ruins of the Cordelières convent, which are also located in a hospital.
The historical buildings of the Former Abbey of Port Royal, which include the cloister and the chapel, were built by the architect Antoine Le Pautre, with the chapel constructed between 1646 and 1648.
We are standing in a 17th-century historical monument that was quite significant for French religious history, as the importance of Port Royal lies in the Jansenist movement.
This austere and rigorous movement emphasized predestination and divine grace.
At that time, there was a myriad of religious sites and beautiful churches built with baroque decor; the abbey was intentionally simple.
Actually, the Former Abbey of Port Royal wasn’t originally located where you see it today; named Port Royal des Champs, it was situated in the Chevreuse Valley.
In 1625, the community moved to Paris to be closer to their influential patrons, but also for environmental reasons – the valley was malaria-prone and swampy.
It didn’t last forever, though.
King Louis XIV saw the Jansenist movement as a republican threat to his absolute authority, since they prioritized their own conscience over royal and papal decrees.
Within this movement, you find elite philosophers and scholars of the era called the Solitaires, like Blaise Pascal or Jean Racine, who was educated at Port Royal; both were closely associated with the abbey.
To go back to King Louis XIV, who hated the Jansenists, he had the original abbey razed, while the Paris abbey survived, though it was confiscated and turned into a prison known as Port Libre during the Revolution.
Today, when you walk through the small door to access the cloister, you find yourself in one of the most magical Parisian gardens.
It is exceptionally well-preserved and honestly reminded me of the secret cloisters in Rome that I love so much.
Former Abbey of Port Royal Paris Photo Gallery
Former Abbey of Port Royal: A Secret Cloister in Paris 14
Once you finish strolling through the fabulous cloister of the Former Abbey of Port Royal, you will find several other magnificent spots full of history nearby.
For example, the famous Paris Catacombs are only a ten-minute walk away, while the Paris Observatory, the oldest in the world still in use, is right across the street.
I also recommend a visit to Paris Fashion Vintage, one of the most unique boutiques in Paris, with accessories, clothing, and decor pieces ranging from the 20s to the 90s and 2000s.
If you want to find other cloisters, historical sites, or beautiful ruins in Paris, I suggest a trip to the Marais to discover the Cloître des Billettes or the Passage de l’Ancre.
Otherwise, you also have the Collège des Bernardins in the 5th arrondissement, which is absolutely full of charm.
And if you want to return to modern life while keeping that historical spirit, why not visit one of Paris’s beautiful bookstores, or a department store like Printemps Haussmann, Le Bon Marché, Galeries Lafayette, or even La Samaritaine?
Former Abbey of Port Royal Paris
Address: 121-125 Boulevard de Port-Royal, 75014 Paris
Website: Antimuseum