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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Maison de la Miséricorde, located in Montpellier, is a monument whose history spans three centuries, from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries. Although internal sources do not specify its exact function, its name evokes a charitable or religious vocation, typical of the urban institutions of the Old Regime and the 19th century. In Montpellier, as in other cities in Occitanie, the 17th and 18th centuries were marked by a social organization in which charitable works played a central role.

The houses of mercy, often run by congregations or laity, offered support to vulnerable populations. Their architecture, often sober but imposing, reflected their importance in the urban fabric. In the 19th century, these institutions evolved with social reforms, adapting to the new needs of industrial society.

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