You probably know the rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré for its prestigious shops, but did you know that number 222 hides a place steeped in four centuries of history? Passing through a porch that's almost invisible from the street, you'd never guess that it hides a church. This is the Convent of the Annunciation, so well hidden that it has long remained unknown to passers-by. Yet just a stone's throw from the Étoile and opposite the Rothschild Foundation, this Dominican convent is a veritable haven of peace.
Founded in 1613 on rue Saint-Honoré by Father Sébastien Michaëlis, the first Annunciation convent was austere, faithful to the Dominican spirit of reform. It became famous for its sobriety and intellectual rigor. Its imposing library and paintings by Pourbus and Mignard made it a respected spiritual center. During the French Revolution, however, the friars were expelled, and the building became known as the Jacobin Club, and was eventually destroyed. It wasn't until 1874 that the Dominican order re-established a convent in the Faubourg Saint-Honoré, then in the midst of the Haussmann transformations.
The present church, completed between 1877 and 1897, features a sober yet majestic Romanesque-Byzantine style. It features a monumental Christ by James Tissot, a Merklin-Silbermann organ, paintings by Couturier and Desvallières, and an atmosphere conducive to meditation. The building was modernized in the 1960s to accommodate the Lord's Day mass.
On the left, a porch leads to the Art Deco cloister, added in 1930 and revisited in 2008 as an "open cloister". The garden, designed by landscape architect Thierry Cardot, is a subtle balance between spirituality and nature. Biblical symbols, geometric shapes and carefully selected plants (prunus, maples, boxwood, hydrangeas for the apostles) make up a meditative garden that lives to the rhythm of the seasons. This is a rare example of a contemporary garden inserted into an ancient monastic site.
The Couvent de l'Annonciation is also a place for sharing. It regularly hosts masses and spiritual gatherings, as well as events open to all, such as the International Piano Festival and the beautiful"Dancing the Earth" photo exhibition on the cloister level. A bookshop, Le Passage du 222, extends the experience, in association with Editions du Cerf.
Visits arefree of charge, Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 12:30pm and 2pm to 6pm, and Friday 10am to 12pm. During Heritage Days, guided tours are offered to help visitors better understand this spiritual, historical and cultural site.
An address we're happy to share, but would almost like to keep to ourselves. Whether you're curious about architecture, a lover of silence or in search of hidden beauty, the Couvent de l'Annonciation is well worth a visit. The visit leaves you feeling a little more at peace, as if Paris still knew how to offer moments of grace between two appointments.
We love this place for what it is: a hidden treasure, without flashiness, a stone's throw from one of Paris's most famous streets. Whether you're a believer or simply curious, push open the door of the Couvent de l'Annonciation and let yourself be surprised.
Dates and Opening Time
Next days
Friday:
from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Monday:
from 08:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- from 02:00 p.m. to 06:00 p.m.
Tuesday:
from 08:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- from 02:00 p.m. to 06:00 p.m.
Wednesday:
from 08:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- from 02:00 p.m. to 06:00 p.m.
Thursday:
from 08:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- from 02:00 p.m. to 06:00 p.m.
Location
Le Couvent de l'Annonciation Paris 8e
222 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
75008 Paris 8
