Hôtel-Dieu in Beaune : a jewel of Burgundy architecture and history

An exceptional historical monument, a model of Burgundian medieval architecture

In designing his hospital, Nicolas Rolin drew inspiration from the architecture of hospitals in the northern part of the Duchy of Burgundy (from Lille to Flanders). Today, the Hôtel-Dieu covers a significant area of the city of Beaune, with its must-see museum, three courtyards, outbuildings, 15th-century bastion and hundreds of meters of cellars. Hospice wines were historically vinified here in the town center, until a new winery was built in 1995.

The four buildings open to the public, arranged around the courtyard of honor, represent the configuration of the original Hôtel-Dieu. From its foundation in 1443, Nicolas Rolin had planned to endow the establishment with furniture, tapestries and other remarkable objects. A pictorial masterpiece, Rogier van der Weyden's Last Judgment polyptych is admired by thousands of visitors every year.

Within the building, the courtyard of honor is an emblematic feature of the Hospices de Beaune. It is surrounded by buildings with half-timbered facades and roofs covered with colorfully patterned glazed tiles, typical of Burgundy. The central courtyard gives access to the various parts of the Hôtel-Dieu, including historic rooms.

- La Salle des Pôvres: the largest room in the Hôtel-Dieu, it is 50 meters long and could accommodate up to 30 beds. It is decorated with woodwork and religious paintings, reflecting the care given to the sick.
- Salle Saint-Hugues: Originally used as a consultation and treatment room, it now houses a collection of 16th-century Flemish tapestries.
- Salle Saint-Nicolas: Intended for the seriously ill, this room is smaller and more intimate, with a peaceful atmosphere conducive to healing.

In the Salle des Pôvres, the Hôtel-Dieu chapel is housed, allowing patients to attend religious services from their beds. It is adorned with frescoes and a spectacular altarpiece, Rogier van der Weyden's famous Last Judgment polyptych, one of the major works in the Hospices collection, admired by thousands of visitors every year.

Finally, the Hôtel-Dieu pharmacy is another essential room. Equipped with wooden cabinets containing a vast collection of earthenware and glass jars - used to store remedies - the pharmacy reflects the medical practices of the time and the importance attached to preparing medicines to treat patients. These different parts of the Hospices de Beaune bear witness to the historical and architectural importance of the Hôtel-Dieu, as well as its pioneering role in the history of medicine and patient care.

Tourism in Beaune: the Hôtel-Dieu museum, a must-see in Burgundy

For all heritage lovers, a visit to the Hôtel-Dieu museum (lasting around one hour) is one of Beaune's not-to-be-missed tourist attractions. Over 400,000 people visit the Hôtel-Dieu museum every year. It's rightly one of Burgundy's most visited tourist sites on the route des Grands Crus, along with many other heritage gems such as the Château du Clos de Vougeot (where chapters of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin are held, including the famous one preceding the Hospices de Beaune auction) or the Abbey of Cîteaux.

From Hôtel-Dieu to Hospices Civils de Beaune

If the Hôtel-Dieu is the founding stone, today this unique place in the world is part of a larger whole: the Hospices Civils de Beaune. Today, this administrative entity encompasses a multiple reality: the Hôtel-Dieu in the town center, of course, and its museum, the Centre Hospitalier Nicolas Rollin (Beaune Hospital) on the outskirts of the town, a retirement home, a nursing school and, of course, for the wine-making aspect, the Domaine des Hospices and its 60 ha of vines, whose wines are auctioned each year at the famous charity sale on the 3rd Sunday in November.

A new hospital under construction

The construction of a new hospital in Beaune is part of the Hospices Civils de Beaune's 2021-2025 global facility project, which aims to modernize the town's healthcare infrastructure. The future building will be constructed within the existing Beaune hospital complex, after several years of discussions and planning. The project involves demolishing the existing hospital building (known as Building H) rather than rebuilding it. Announced at a meeting held on February 20, 2024, work is scheduled to start in early 2025.

The new hospital will be designed to offer state-of-the-art facilities, incorporating the latest medical technologies to improve the quality of patient care. The project aims to increase patient capacity, with additional care units and modern rooms to meet growing demand. It will also be built to environmental standards, incorporating sustainable solutions to minimize the facility's ecological footprint.

This initiative represents a significant development for healthcare in the region and for the people of Beaune. It aims to improve the quality of care and adapt facilities to current public health standards.

How to buy at the Hospices auction with Albert Bichot?