Taken by the English 1373 (≈ 1373)
Destruction of archives by the Duke of Lancastre.
XIVe siècle
Foundation of maladry
Foundation of maladry XIVe siècle (≈ 1450)
Creation of leprosy and pond.
2006
Registration historical monument
Registration historical monument 2006 (≈ 2006)
Protection of the entire chapel.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The chapel of the madrery, in full (Box ZB 122): inscription by decree of 20 March 2006
Key figures
Duc de Lancastre - English military chief
It took the site in 1373.
Origin and history
La Maldrerie Saint-Lazare, located in Bourbon-l'Archambault in the Allier department, is a former leprosy founded in the 14th century. This historic site today consists of a collection of buildings dating from the 17th to 19th centuries, organized around an inner courtyard. The oldest remains include a chapel partially demolished during the French Revolution and a large empierré basin of 50 meters, used as a remedy against leprosy. This contemporary basin of the chapel illustrates medieval medical practices in the face of this disease.
In 1373, during the ride of the Duke of Lancastre in Bourbonnais, the English took over the strategic site, located at a road crossroads and offering a view of the local fortress. The archives of the maladry are then destroyed, leaving only references scattered in other documents. The chapel, the only vestige of the 14th century still visible, preserves remarkable architectural elements such as painted caps, a liturgical swimming pool and engraved crosses of the order of Saint-Lazarus. The site, which was listed as a historic monument in 2006, also received the attention of the Rural Heritage Foundation for its bourbonese architecture.
Originally, maladry was a place of isolation and care for lepers, reflecting the social and medical practices of the time. Attached to Bourbon Hospital in the 18th century, it continues as evidence of architectural and health developments, from empirical remedies (such as the therapeutic basin) to subsequent changes in buildings. Today, the chapel and its environment offer a unique overview of this hospitable and religious heritage, marked by centuries of local and regional history.
