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Origin and history

The Protestant health home of Nîmes, located 5 and 7 rue de Sauve, is a mid-eighteenth-century building built in the suburbs designed by engineer Jacques-Philippe Mareschal. This neighborhood, planned in a Louis XV style, blends royal aesthetics with Nîmes traditions. The facade on street, sober with its regular spans and its open doors (including an adorned with a feminine head at #7), contrasts with the facade on garden, more elegant, marked by a forebody with volutes. Inside, an open cage staircase and 18th-century doors testify to its past prestige. Originally conceived as a marina and a workshop, it was acquired in 1921 and 1954 by the Protestant institution to expand its medico-social activities.

Founded in 1842, the Protestant health home in Nîmes was founded with a health and charitable vocation, welcoming the poor of the Protestant community free of charge. Recognized as a public utility in 1872, she gained fame, particularly during the cholera epidemic of 1884, where she isolated suspicious cases, thus saving the city. In 1866, a hospital was built on Franklin Roosevelt Avenue thanks to Léon Noguier's patronage, becoming the main site. In the 20th century, the institution evolved towards geriatrics, with four EHPADs today, including those on Rue de Sauve, classified as historical monuments in 2011 for their facades and staircase.

The architecture of the building reflects the visionary planning of Mareschal, where every detail (corns, garlands, grids) combines functionality and decor. The house also embodies Nîmes Protestant history, marked by a lasting social commitment. Since the 2010s, under the leadership of Jacques Cadène (Chairman of the Board of Directors), the institution has modernized its services, integrating third-places in 2024 to strengthen ties between residents, families and neighbourhoods. These innovations are part of a continuity: that of a living heritage, both medical, architectural and community.

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