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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Hospital Saint-Jean de Montreuil-Bellay is a former hospice founded in 1484 at the site of a medieval chaplaincy dedicated to Saint John. Built in the shape of a Latin cross, it housed the sick in the nave and a chapel in the choir, while serving as a reception place for pilgrims and a health barrier before entering the closed city. Its strategic position, just behind the wall near the Saint John Gate, reflected its role both religious, social and preventive against epidemics.

Over the centuries, the building has undergone several transformations, notably in the 19th century (1843-1857) with the addition of a new building body, and subsequent renovations in the 20th century. Today, it has been protected as historical monuments since 1967 and hosts temporary exhibitions in summer. The 17th century walled door, visible in the sick room, bears witness to successive architectural adaptations.

Ranked for its architectural and historical heritage, St John's Hospital illustrates the evolution of medieval hospital structures in Anjou. Its Latin cross plan, typical of the religious establishments of the period, and its proximity to the ramparts of Montreuil-Bellay underline its integration into the defensive and charitable system of the city. Archaeological and historical sources, such as Bénédicte Fillion-Braguet's work, document its importance in the medieval landscape of Angelvin.

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