THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS OF THE SAINT-LAURENT HOSPITAL

In 1684, Antide Midan, a priest officiating at the hospital chapel, discussed relocating the building with the administrators. He spent several years negotiating the purchase of the land needed and even paid for a substantial part of the construction with his own money and donations from some grandees.

The first ward, baptised Saint-Laurent, opened at the end of 1692, perpendicular to the River Meuzin. It welcomed and treated male and female patients. An altar was set up at the back of the room so that various masses could be held close to the sick. Next, in 1739, the Sainte-Madeleine ward was built so that men and women could be nursed separately.

It wasn’t until 1842 that the Saint-Étienne ward was created. After that, more and more buildings were added including a depository and a caretaker’s lodge. The Saint-Joseph ward, an extension of the Saint-Étienne ward, was built in 1878 especially for the elderly.

The Laënnec wing was built in 1934 away from the other buildings. This was to care for tuberculosis patients without risking contagion. More recent additions, such as the medical wing and the morgue, date between 1975 and 2002.

Each architectural evolution came about because of developments in medicine and public health recommendations.