This 700-year-old monument is one of the most remarkable in Pas-de-Calais

If you are passing through the Côte d'Opale, here is a place that you absolutely must discover. Near Montreuil, in Pas-de-Calais, hides one of the most remarkable monuments of the department. 700 years oldthe Chartreuse de Neuville is today the only Carthusian monastery open to the public in France to have preserved its entire architectural ensemble. Presentation.

The largest Historic Monuments project in France after Notre-Dame de Paris

La Chartreuse was created in 1324 in the small village of La Neuville-sous-Montreuil 20 km from Le Touquet-Paris-Plage. This exceptional place is the largest preserved Carthusian monastery in France with 2 hectares of built space (approximately 18,000 m²) on 12 hectares of land.

In 700 years, the monument has lived several lives: monastery, general printing press of the Carthusian Order, sanatorium inaugurated by Georges Clémenceau, cultural center frequented by Guillaume Apollinaire, hospice-asylum…

One of the important dates in its history is the year 1901, when the Carthusians were expelled there because of the law on associations better known as the Waldeck-Rousseau law. We will also remember the year 1993, date of registration under the historical monuments.

A new life since 2008

“Abandoned, it was in danger in 2008 at the start of its rebirth,” underlines the Chartreuse de Neuville Association. For a little over 15 years, the association has been experimenting, with the help of its private and public partners, “an innovative economic model” in order to write the future of this place created several centuries ago.

In 2016, the Chartreuse association launched a project to restore all of the buildings. A huge project to 42 million euros. This is the second largest historic monument project in France after that of Notre-Dame de Paris. 380,000 slates are to be placed on the roofs, 165 m³ frames need to be replaced as well as 350 tonnes of stones to be changed.

Today you can visit it, but also attend concerts, exhibitions, conferences, work there too, organize a seminar, incubate a project…

The impressive project is taking place in three parts. The first concerns the covered enclosure, it was completed in 2023. The second was devoted to the treatment of parquet floors and joists against rot. The third and last concerns the interior design. The completion of the renovation work is scheduled for 2026.

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