Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

Saint-Lazare de Beauvais is an ancient leprosy founded in the 12th century, first mentioned in 1131 through an act of donation. She was one of the eleven maladries in the diocese of Beauvais, but the only one to have survived until today. This site, classified as a historical monument since 1939, illustrates the medieval organization of leper care, with distinct spaces for patients and caregivers.

Until the 18th century, maladry served as a refuge for lepers, whose lives were strictly regulated. The sick, declared "socially dead" at a ceremony, received food, clothing and care. The wealth of the site came from the donations of the sick, bequests, and religious privileges, such as tax exemption. From the 16th century, it also welcomed pestifers and indigents, expanding its charitable vocation.

At the time of the Revolution, the maladry was sold as a national good and turned into a farm, which preserved its buildings from destruction. In the 19th century, it attracted the attention of historians, such as Dr.Eugène Woillez, leading to a first ranking in 1862, then to major restorations in the 20th and 21st centuries. Today, the site, purchased by Beauvais in 2002, houses a cultural centre and medieval gardens.

The architecture of the maladry includes a 12th century Romanesque chapel, a 13th century barn (carpent dated 1219-1220), and partitioned spaces: the courtyard of the sick, that of the caregivers, and the farm. The barn, 44 meters long, is one of the best preserved in northern France. The graffiti on its walls bear witness to eight centuries of history.

Ranked and listed as historic monuments (1939 for main buildings, 1989 for enclosures and floors), maladry has benefited from restorations since the 1980s. Its bell tower, collapsed in 1939, was partially rebuilt. Today, the site offers exhibitions, concerts, and workshops, while preserving its architectural heritage and medieval gardens, cultivated without chemicals.

Future

This site is today a cultural and tourist centre that welcomes the public throughout the year.

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