Did you know this square owes its existence to repentant women? We are standing at Square des Madelonnettes in Lille. This square is named after the Couvent des Madelonnettes de Lille. This convent was founded in 1481. Jean de Le Cambe, also called Gantois, provided the land. The land included a house, a meadow and five small houses. It was for women who wanted to leave their former lives behind. These women wanted to amend their lives for the sake of their souls.
In 1532 the city gave the management to the sisters of Madeleine. They were also known as Madelonnettes or repentant women. They came from Saint-Omer. The city also allowed them to care for the sick.
Later in 1763 a neighboring house was purchased. It housed wayward women and girls. Families requested their confinement. During the French Revolution the institution closed.
From 1802 to 1967, the former convent housed the Administration of the Civil Hospices of Lille. Later the Ministry of the Interior bought it. They planned to establish a police station. But the buildings fell into disrepair. In the 1990s the city took over the buildings. They converted them into offices and housing.
The convent’s remains include a 17th-century building. There is also the neoclassical facade of the convent chapel. The Couvent des Madelonnettes de Lille is a historical monument. It has been listed since.
Today Square des Madelonnettes is a public space. It is near the Rihour metro station. It offers a place for rest and reflection. The square reminds us of the convent’s history. It is a story of repentance, care and social change. It also shows Lille’s rich past.