Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Hospices d'Angers were founded in the 19th century by the merger of three hospitals: the Hôtel-Dieu (founded in the 12th century), the General Hospital (1615) and a hospital opened in 1745. This unification aimed to centralize care in a new building, whose first stone was laid in 1849 by Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte. The architect Edouard Moll designed the building, while the chapel was decorated with frescoes by Jules Lenepveu, Eugene Appert and Dauban, reflecting the religious art of the time.

The Sainte-Marie Chapel, listed as a Historic Monument in 1930, illustrates the heritage importance of the site. His paintings (1857-1868), made with oil, wax and fresco, bear witness to a pivotal period for sacred art. The present CHU, now a major medical centre, perpetuates this history by combining innovation and architectural heritage.

Beyond its medical function, the site embodies the evolution of hospital practices in France, from medieval hospitals to a modern university centre. The frescoes of the chapel, protected for their artistic value, recall the social and spiritual role of hospitals before their progressive medicalization. Today, the Angers CHU remains a key player in regional health, while preserving this heritage.

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