Tournus FranceHôtel-Dieu

Like many cities and towns in France Tournus has an Hôtel-Dieu. A hospital built initially for the poor and needy that developed into a modern day public hospital used by all. The origins of the Hôtel-Dieu go back to the end of the 9th century when the Saint-Philibert Abbey founded outside the city walls a place for the sick. The ‘modern’ Hôtel-Dieu had its birth on September 6, 1613 when a hospital opened inside the city walls of Tournus.

Building of the present Hôtel-Dieu started in 1661. In the 17th century the first ward was built with 18 beds lined end-to-end against the walls creating a corridor of beds, this first ward was used by both men and women. A second ward was built at the beginning of the 18th century, so the sexes could have separate wards.

A final ward was built during the French revolution. Bringing the total to three and creating the layout of a cross with the chapel in the center. Each ward has access to the chapel meaning that the sick could follow mass without leaving their beds. The last ward has access to the Hôtel-Dieu’s garden where plants where grown and used as medications. Soldiers used the last ward.

The architecture of the Hôtel-Dieu reflects former theories of medicine. Including high ceilings thought to help disperse the sicknesses of the patients.

The Hôtel-Dieu’s wards were closed in 1978 and the Hôtel-Dieu saw its last patient in 1982.

Also on the grounds of the Hôtel-Dieu is the Greuze Museum a small but wide-ranging museum with works from different centuries and styles. The Greuze Museum is named after local son Jean-Baptiste Greuze a number of whose works are on display at the museum.

Note: Any institution referred to an Hôtel-Dieu means that a religious person or order founded it, in the case of the Hôtel-Dieu in Tournus it was the Sisters of Beaune also know as the Sisters of Saint Martha.

Hôtel-Dieu Photos

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