Hôtel-Dieu, Beaune

We had a few days free this week so we decided to take a little trip south with some friends, first we headed to Beaune. It really is a fabulous town and we delight in spending time there.

At the heart of Beaune is the hôtel-Dieu, a charitable hospital founded nearly 600 years ago by Nicolas Rolin and Guigone de Salins. Despite being so central it can easily go unnoticed as the entrance to it, across from the marketplace, is quite inconspicuous. However, on entering you are wowed by the architectural design and beauty of the building and its roof.

An audio tour is available, which takes you slowly through the rooms that were once set up by the nuns to nurse the poor and sick who couldn’t afford help elsewhere.

Today there is still a working hospital at the rear of the building, with a delightful little sensory garden offering shade and areas for contemplation.

I would very much recommend a trip to Beaune, and definitely a visit to this beautiful museum.