Former Ursuline convent in Montferrand

From Ursuline convent to museum, Montferrand's former monastic complex has passed through the centuries, successively housing nuns, a seminary, a military hospital and, since 1999, the Musée d'Art Roger-Quilliot.
The Order of Saint Ursula, or the Ursulines, is a female monastic order dedicated to the education of young girls, founded in Italy in the mid-16th century. The Ursulines arrived in Montferrand in 1637 and settled in former medieval buildings. In 1673 they planned extensive renovations for a new convent, including a cloister, dormitories for the pupils, a refectory, and cells for the nuns. The first stone of the chapel was laid in 1702.

During the French Revolution the nuns left the premises. In the 19th century the site was occupied by the grand seminary, which in turn moved out in 1905. During the First World War (1914–1918) the buildings were converted into a military hospital. The last occupants were the Mobile Guard, who remained until 1982, before the City of Clermont-Ferrand acquired the property in 1984.

In 1992 the southern part of the convent was converted into housing, now known as the Musée Residence. The northern part was renovated to house the city’s fine-arts collections. In 1999 the museum was renamed the Musée d’Art Roger-Quilliot, in tribute to the city’s mayor from 1973 to 1997.

Today, visitors can still see the 17th-century gate of the Cour des Aides (the former civil and criminal tax court), as well as the 18th-century chapel and cloister—located within the residence—both listed as Historic Monuments.