The Reformed Church temple (2 rue Brave Rondeau)

La Rochelle (17), temple: former Récollet church © Musée Rochelais d'Histoire Protestante
The temple in La Rochelle (17) © S.H.P.F.
The temple in La Rochelle, etching from the 19th century (17) © S.H.P.F.

The present temple was the former Church of the Recollets that Louis XIII had summoned to La Rochelle after the 1628 siege and authorised to settle in the Saint-Michel room, the first place of public worship for the Rochelais Protestants in 1563.

In 1691 the church was built but was confiscated at the Revolution and sold as national property. In 1793 Sieur Ranson bought it in the name of the city’s heads of Protestant families, who had no place of worship since 1685. It was also used as a meeting room for the Amis de la Constitution – Friends of the Constitution, before being permanently dedicated to Reformed worship in 1798.

During the 19th century major adjustments were made inside the building, namely installing pews, changing the location of the pulpit, fitting in woodwork, buying an organ…

The Reformed Church temple (2 rue Brave Rondeau)

2 Rue du Brave Rondeau, La Rochelle, France

Itinerary to this location

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Following note The Protestant Centre (2 rue Brave Rondeau)

Associated tours

Les deux tours du Vieux-Port de La Rochellert

A walk through Protestant La Rochelle

As early as 1546, La Rochelle was one of the major cities in the kingdom won over to the Reformation. La Rochelle had been an economic and maritime power since...