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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Hôtel-Dieu de Lons-le-Saunier is a former hospital built between 1735 and 1745 by architect Jean-Pierre Galezot, from Besançon. The latter is inspired directly by the St. James Hospital of his hometown to design this classic monument. The building houses an apothecary store that preserves its original utensils and a remarkable large staircase. The wrought iron gate of the court of honour, added around 1778, has been classified as historical monuments since 1891. The 18th century buildings have been classified since 2003, while the 19th century wings have been listed since 1999.

During World War I (1914-1918), the Hôtel-Dieu served as a hospital for wounded soldiers, run by nuns. In the 19th century, it was gradually replaced by the modern hospital of Lons-le-Saunier. Major extensions include the North Wing (1830-1839) and the South Wing (1865-1868), the latter replacing former stables. The chapel, renovated in 1845, and the sisters' dormitory, added to the west, complete the whole.

The building clock was manufactured by Lucien Terraillon, a company based in Perrigny. The architecture is characterized by an open U-building in the east, a courtyard of honor closed by the gate, and preserved interior elements such as the panelling, the cabinets of the pharmacy, and the boardroom. The vaulted kitchen and the wrought iron ramp of the staircase testify to the artisanal know-how of the time.

Ranked a Historical Monument, the Hôtel-Dieu illustrates the evolution of hospitals in Franche-Comté, mixing medical, architectural heritage and local memory. Its history also reflects the role of religious congregations in care before modern medicalization. Today, it remains a symbol of the hospital heritage and urban planning of the eighteenth century in the Jura.

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