Former leprosy

Ownership of the municipality

Museums of France

Miscellaneous

Crédit photo : Thierry Caro - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Époque contemporaine

2000

1986

Acquisition by the municipality

XXe siècle

Construction of leprosy

17 décembre 2015

Registration historical monument

Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

The old leprosy in its entirety, including the plate ground, the courtyard, the basalt pillars and the cachots located at 146, chemin du Père-Raimbault at Saint-Bernard (cad. IS 0001) as delimited by a red border on the plan annexed to the decree: inscription by order of 17 December 2015

Key figures

Clément Raimbault - Associated local figure

Name given to the path.

Origin and history

The former Leproserie de Saint-Bernard is a historic monument located in Saint-Denis, on the island of La Réunion, in the district of La Montagne. Built in the 20th century, it is located at 146, chemin du Père-Raimbault. This site, owned by the municipality since 1986, is a place of memory linked to the medical and social history of the island. It was listed as a historical monument on December 17, 2015, also benefiting from the "Twentieth Century Heritage" label due to its period of construction.

The leprosy is a complete architectural ensemble, including the grounds, the courtyard, basalt pillars and dungeons. These elements, defined by a plan annexed to the registration order, reflect the living conditions and medical practices of the time. The site is today a poignant testimony of the struggle against leprosy and the health organization in La Réunion in the 20th century.

The name of the street, "path of the Father-Raimbault", refers to Clement Raimbault, a local figure associated with this place. Leprosery is also mentioned in heritage databases such as Merimée, which underscores its historical and architectural importance. Its inscription as a historic monument in 2015 allowed to preserve this unique heritage, while offering a space for reflection on the medical and social past of the island.