About this place
The House and Presbytery of Levesville-la-Chenard mark the birthplace of the Sisters of Saint-Paul de Chartres, a Catholic religious congregation now active on five continents. The building stands on Rue Gaston Couté in Levesville-la-Chenard, a small village in the Beauce region of France, roughly 30 km from Chartres, in the Eure-et-Loir department.
Why does this small village matter to a worldwide congregation?
Parish records from 1695 first mention the hiring of a schoolmistress for the village children — a modest note that turned out to be the seed of something much larger. In 1696, the parish priest Louis Chauvet and Marie-Anne de Tilly formally started a community then called the Filles de l'école, "Daughters of the School." The first two women to join them were Marie Micheau and Barbe Foucault.
How did the community grow into a worldwide congregation?
A school for village children opened in Levesville in 1700, launching the educational mission that would eventually spread far beyond Beauce. In 1708, Father Chauvet placed the growing community under the authority of the Bishop of Chartres, Paul Godet des Marets, who gave it the patronage of Saint Paul the Apostle — the origin of its present name. Chauvet died in 1710 and was buried in the church of Levesville; his remains were later transferred, in 1843, to the chapel of the congregation's mother house in Chartres. In 1727, four sisters were sent to a hospital in Cayenne, French Guiana, one of the congregation's earliest missions outside Europe. Today the Sisters of Saint-Paul de Chartres number around 4,000 members running schools, care homes and pastoral projects across five continents.
What survives on site today?
The house and presbytery where Father Chauvet lived and worked is still standing and is considered the cradle of the congregation. It can be visited by appointment. The grounds include parking, a picnic area, a dining hall, a kitchen and toilets, with access adapted for visitors with disabilities. Every summer, the site hosts a pilgrimage that brings together sisters of the congregation and others interested in its history.
How do you plan a visit?
The house is located at 2 Rue Gaston Couté in Levesville-la-Chenard, within the parish of Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc en Beauce. Because visits are arranged on request rather than during fixed opening hours, it is best to contact the parish or the Diocese of Chartres in advance, particularly outside the summer pilgrimage period.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is the site in Levesville-la-Chenard? It is the surviving house and presbytery of Father Louis Chauvet, where the Sisters of Saint-Paul de Chartres congregation was founded in 1696.
Who founded the congregation? Father Louis Chauvet, parish priest of Levesville-la-Chenard, together with Marie-Anne de Tilly; the first sisters to join were Marie Micheau and Barbe Foucault.
Can visitors tour the house? Yes, visits are possible by prior arrangement.
Where does the name "Sisters of Saint-Paul de Chartres" come from? In 1708, the Bishop of Chartres, Paul Godet des Marets, placed the community under the patronage of Saint Paul the Apostle, giving it its current name.
Where is the congregation active today? It now counts about 4,000 sisters serving on five continents, running schools, care facilities and pastoral ministries.
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