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Origin and history

The Hôtel-Dieu de Coeffort, located in Le Mans, was founded in 1180 by Henry II Plantagenet, King of England and Count of Maine, in atonement for the murder of Thomas Becket. Built between 1180 and 1207, it was originally a hospital for sick, poor and pilgrims, located outside the city walls, on a pilgrimage road. Its Plantagenet style architecture makes it an early witness to Gothicism in western France.

The building, managed by lay brothers and sisters under the authority of the bishop, also became a place of forgiveness and distribution of indulgences. In the 14th century, it was enlarged by donations of bourgeois mendeaux, then transformed in 1649 by Saint Vincent de Paul, who installed a chapel and a seminary for the Lazarists. The latter worked there until 1791, combining care, education and rural missions.

In 1793, the Hôtel-Dieu became a national property: its furniture was sold, and the building served as a prison for refractory priests and then a stable for the army. Ranked a historic monument in 1947, it was restored from 1951. In 1953, the treasure of Coeffort was discovered, an exceptional collection of 14th century medieval goldsmiths, now exposed to the archaeological museum of Le Mans.

The treasure, composed of 31 silver pieces (cuts, spoons, sharpener), carries punches and inscriptions linking certain pieces to the hospital confraternity. He was buried in 1420 during the Hundred Years' War to escape the British looting, and remained hidden until his rediscovery. The pieces, such as the repelled cup or the animal-headed folding spoon, illustrate the refined craftsmanship of the silversmiths.

The present church, dedicated to Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc since 1923, preserves remarkable medieval elements: 12th century capitals, 13th century murals (including the mystical Lamb), and 17th century tapestries (like Aubusson's one representing Joan of Arc). The modern stained glass windows, by Max Ingrand, celebrate Henry II, Vincent de Paul and the patron saint of the place.

Despite the destruction of the seminary in 1962, the building, 50 metres long, remains an architectural masterpiece with its 21 vaults and preserved decorations. The restoration works (1951–2005) allowed to rediscover its history, between medieval hospitality, military occupation and cultural renaissance in the 20th century.

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