Hôpital Saint-Louis

The Hôpital Saint-Louis in Paris (old entrance from 2 Place du Docteur Alfred Fournier) was initially, at the beginning of 16th century, just a branch of the Hôtel-Dieu de Paris during plague epidemics, when the number of beds in the main Paris’ hospital proved to be totally inadequate. In 1772, after the devastating fire of the Hôtel-Dieu, Saint-Louis became a permanent hospital increasingly dedicated to dermatology and venereal diseases, especially through the work of Jean-Louis-Marc Alibert¹, who worked in the hospital since 1801 and founded one of the first school of dermatology in the world.

The ancient part of the hospital is characterized by a large quadrilateral building enclosing a beautiful garden. It is now classified as a historical and protected building and is mainly dedicated to administrative functions. Since 1981 a new hospital has been built just behind the old one.

The historical entrance

The Quadrilatère (quadrilateral building) with the garden

The Bains or building for hydrotherapy

Other buildings

The Chapel

Explanatory panels about the history and the architecture of the Hospital

The new hospital

• Photos by Luca Borghi @ (July 2014)

• Locate the item on this Google Map

Related items:

• Achille Louste’s bas-relief
• Paul Lecene’s bas-relief
• Paul Ravaut’s bas-relief

Bibliography

– P.Faure, “L’histoire de l’hôpital Saint-Louis à travers l’histoire de ses bâtiments”, in Revue d’histoire de la pharmacie, 87e année, N. 324, 1999, pp. 443-448
– H.Gougerot-L.Brodier, L’Hôpital Saint-Louis et la Clinique d’Alfred Fournier, Peyronnet & C., Paris 1932, pp. 142
– R.Saboraud, Les vieux hôpitaux français: l’Hôpital Saint-Louis, Laboratoires Ciba, Lyon 1937, pp. 44