Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Val-de-Grâce Army Health Service Museum was founded in 1916 by Justin Godard in an iconic building: the former Royal Abbey of Val-de-Grâce, built in 1645 for Queen Anne of Austria after the birth of Louis XIV. Later transformed into a military hospital, this abbey now houses various collections, ranging from historical medical instruments to military uniforms, archives and works of art related to health and war.

The museum covers broad thematic areas, including military history, nature sciences, and industrial techniques. Its collections include rare objects such as models of sanitary transport, memories of military doctors, autographs, or old views of buildings. The cloister of the abbey, witness to 17th century architecture, and the rooms dedicated to military pharmacists or uniforms offer a complete panorama of the evolution of care for the armies.

Labelled Museum of France, the establishment is located 1 place Alphonse Laveran, in the 5th arrondissement of Paris. His heritage interest lies as much in his historical architecture — linked to the French monarchy — as in his contemporary role of preserving military medical memory. The collections reflect both technical innovation (aeronautics, sanitary vehicles) and artistic heritage (paintings, sculptures, textiles), making this place a crossroads between science, history and art.

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