Old Ursuline Convent Museum
4.6(463)google
3.8(30)yelp
History
Overview
Ursuline Convent (French: Couvent des Ursulines) was a series of historic Ursuline convents in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. In 1727, at the request of Governor Étienne Perier, nuns from the Ursuline Convent of Rouen (Normandy) went to New Orleans to found a convent, run a hospital, and take care of educating young girls.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration1-2 hours
Best TimeRecommended Friday or Saturday mornings (10:00 AM - 12:30 PM) from October to March. Erected in 1752, this is the oldest surviving French colonial-era structure in the Mississippi Valley. Crisp morning light directly hits the severe, elegant white facade and mansard roof. The interior historical exhibits remain incredibly serene.
Getting ThereTucked into the quieter downriver edge of the French Quarter at 1100 Chartres Street. No parking spaces exist. The optimal transit route is taking the Riverfront Streetcar to the Ursulines Station, stepping off, and walking exactly 2 blocks inland (about 3 minutes) toward the prominent historic wrought-iron gate and courtyard.
Travel Tips
- Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays with admission windows slamming shut at 3:15 PM daily; lift networks are historical and slow, requiring checking of large bags.
- The main sanctuary shuts entirely during localized archdiocese high mass; sightseeing crowds are restricted to peripheral exterior brick arcades.
Photo Tips
Photo Rules
- As the oldest surviving structure in the Mississippi Valley, strict Catholic archdiocese security bans tripods, large fluid flasks, and selfie sticks.
Reviews
Positive
- As the oldest surviving French colonial structure in the Mississippi Valley, built in 1753, its elegant white Catholic convent facade is perfectly intact with museum-grade historical fidelity.
- Exhibits hold heavy historical depth, mapping the early Ursuline nuns who crossed oceans to wilderness NOLA to build schools and nurse the sick, which is highly moving and educational.
- The site houses the exquisite St. Mary's Church; soaring vaulted ceilings, ancient wood pews, and stained glass windows glow under crisp A/C, offering an exceptionally serene tour setting.
- Situated in a quiet corner of the French Quarter, it successfully avoids Bourbon Street's rowdy noise; crowd density is low and comfortable, featuring a gorgeous manicured French courtyard garden.
Heads up
- The physical exhibition layout is quite small, with limited rooms open to the public; displays rely heavily on old relics and text documents, which may seem monotonous after 20 minutes for casual non-history fans.
- Ticket counters favor cash and mobile app ticketing is sometimes clunky; it lacks accessible lifts to preserve its 200-year-old wood stairs, blocking wheelchair access to the upper level entirely.
- Because of fragile artifacts, strict anti-photography and video bans are enforced in all indoor galleries and the church, proving slightly rigid and disappointing for tourists seeking holiday photos.
- Opening hours are limited with early afternoon closures, and it occasionally shuts without warning for local diocese church functions midweek; you must double-check official site alerts to avoid missing out.