Hôtel-Dieu

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

History

The Hôtel-Dieu results mainly from three building campaigns. From the 15th-century hospital, only vestiges remain. In the 17th century, the Hôtel-Dieu developed according to a cross-shaped plan entitled 'the Quatre-Rangs' with, annexed, the buildings which lined the great rue de l'Hôpital, and the chapel, dating from the middle of the 17th century, adorned with two elegant monumental bell towers. Work on the great Soufflot wing will begin in the middle of the 18th century until the 19th century. The great dome will be begun in 1750 and completed in 1764. Its function will be to evacuate miasmas and it will be accompanied by a chapel. The perpendicular buildings house the great refectory on the ground floor. The Sisters' refectory is of an unusual size for the period. Soufflot's project will ultimately only be finalized in the middle of the 19th century with, in particular, the arrangement of promenades. The end of the 19th century will see the completion of the Hôtel-Dieu. This final phase of work will be marked by the construction of a dome, the Pascalon dome named after its architect. The interior is provided with remarkable metal beams. In the middle of the 20th century, the hospital will house part of the services of the Charité whose most interesting decorations, in particular those of the archives room, the administration council room and the apothecary are installed in two wings of the Quatre-Rangs. Thus was born the museum of civil hospices, in 1935-36. The 20th century remains relatively poor in alterations, the emphasis being on modernizing and renovating the hospital.