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Origin and history

The hospital of La Roche-sur-Yon, originally planned as a military hospital, was ordered by Napoleon I by two decrees (25 May 1804 and 19 April 1806). During his visit on August 8, 1808, the emperor decided to make it a civilian and military establishment. The works, launched in July 1808, were completed in 1811, with an official opening in 1812. The building became departmental property in 1819 after being transferred by the State, to replace Luçon's begging deposit.

Between 1819 and 1866, the hospital functioned as a general hospital, welcoming sick, elderly and indigent in small premises. The revolution of 1830 made it necessary to reserve beds for military troops. In 1867 he became the "Departmental Medical Surgical Hospital", with facilities such as an operating room in 1869. The religious congregations played a key role until 1941, and a chapel, built in 1807 and enlarged in 1856, was decommissioned in 1978.

In the 20th century, the hospital underwent redevelopments to separate patients (surgical, surgical, pregnant women, etc.), but the results remained limited. In 1977, the services were transferred to a new hospital centre (Les Oudairies), and the site, decommissioned in 1978, became the seat of the Vendée departmental council in the 1980s. Modern extensions (1987–1989) were added by architects Roland Castro and Jean-Luc Pellerin.

Partially listed as historical monuments in 1981 (facades and roofs), the former hospital illustrates Napoleonic urban planning and the evolution of hospital care in Vendée. Its architecture, integrated with the Pentagon (historical heart of La Roche-sur-Yon), reflects imperial planning for this prefecture created ex nihilo in the early 19th century.

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