La Rochelle
Title
La Rochelle
Also Known As
Les Nonnains, Saincte Marguerite des Soeurs Blanches, Sancta Margareta de Rupella
Dates
Founded early 15th century?; dissolved 1570s
Dedication
Margaret
Affiliation
Medieval Diocese
Circary
History
The origins of the community at La Rochelle are obscure, but it was probably established in the early 15th century. Backmund has hypothesised that its sisters originally lived at Mirambeau.
In the 1570s, the last surviving sister of the community gave the monastery's church to the Catholic community of La Rochelle. For a time in the early modern period, a community of Oratorians was based there. The former monastic complex served variously as a hospital and as an arsenal. Today the former chapel is an event venue.
In the 1570s, the last surviving sister of the community gave the monastery's church to the Catholic community of La Rochelle. For a time in the early modern period, a community of Oratorians was based there. The former monastic complex served variously as a hospital and as an arsenal. Today the former chapel is an event venue.
Heads of Community
Prioresses
Radegonde Belivier, fl. 1572
Radegonde Belivier, fl. 1572
Status
Women's community
Archival Sources
La Rochelle, Archives départementales de la Charente-Maritime
H 74
La Rochelle, Médiathèque Michel Crépeau de La Rochelle
MS 132, fol. 24; fol. 49 (17th c.; notes)
MS 134 (18th c.; notes)
MS 135 (18th c.; notes)
MS 136 (18th c.; notes)
MS 454, fol. 61 (19th c.; notes)
MS 456, fol. 153 (19th c.; notes)
MS 1543, fol. 328 (19th c.; notes)
Fonds Lévêque, MS 2197, pp. 78-157 (ca. 1900; notes)
Nancy, Bibliothèque Stanislas
MS 1768 (995, vol. 1), fols. 419r-420r
H 74
La Rochelle, Médiathèque Michel Crépeau de La Rochelle
MS 132, fol. 24; fol. 49 (17th c.; notes)
MS 134 (18th c.; notes)
MS 135 (18th c.; notes)
MS 136 (18th c.; notes)
MS 454, fol. 61 (19th c.; notes)
MS 456, fol. 153 (19th c.; notes)
MS 1543, fol. 328 (19th c.; notes)
Fonds Lévêque, MS 2197, pp. 78-157 (ca. 1900; notes)
Nancy, Bibliothèque Stanislas
MS 1768 (995, vol. 1), fols. 419r-420r
Reference
Bibliography
Backmund, Norbert. “Sainte Marguerite de La Rochelle, un couvent de moniales prémontrées.” Bulletin de la Société des Antiquaires de l’Ouest et des musées de Poitiers, Fourth Series, 3, no. 2 (1956): 441–45. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6571222x/f45.
Braud, Stanislas. Notice historique sur le sanctuaire de Sainte-Marguerite à La Rochelle (Ancienne Chapelle des Oratoriens et des Frères). La Rochelle: Imprimierie P. Dubois et L. Mehaignery, 1881. http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k3793394.
Image Credit
The Chapelle Sainte-Marguerite de La Rochelle, 2023. Wikimedia.
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Files
Collection
Citation
“La Rochelle,” A Premonstratensian Atlas, accessed October 16, 2026, https://yvonneseale.org/atlas/items/show/263.