Willow Foundation 1644 (≈ 1644)
Seen by Nicolas Gay for the Hostel of Charity.
vers 1682
Chapel decoration
Chapel decoration vers 1682 (≈ 1682)
Baroque paintings on compartmentalized ceiling.
fin XVIIe – début XVIIIe siècle
Construction of buildings
Construction of buildings fin XVIIe – début XVIIIe siècle (≈ 1825)
Expansion along the Morgon.
1982
Hospital closure
Hospital closure 1982 (≈ 1982)
Transfer to Gleizé.
1984
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 1984 (≈ 1984)
Chapel and protected rooms.
2020
Restoration of apothecary
Restoration of apothecary 2020 (≈ 2020)
Reopening in its place of origin.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The chapel; the building containing the Rentier Hall; the building containing the convalescent hall (see AL 36): classification by order of 27 June 1984; The two buildings rue de la Sous-Prefecture and rue Corlin, bordering the eastern courtyard (Box AL 36): inscription by order of 27 June 1984
Key figures
Nicolas Gay - Curé and Founder
Initiator will of the hotel-God.
Guillaume Corlin - Alderman and donor
Financially contributed to the work.
Charlotte Fresnay - Hospital history
Court appointed in his honour.
Origin and history
The Hôtel-Dieu de Villefranche-sur-Saône, founded in 1644, was born from the testamentary vow of Nicolas Gay, doctor of theology and parish priest of the Collégiale Notre-Dame-des-Marais. The latter wanted to create a central infirmary, theHostel de Charité, supported by gifts such as that of the echevin Guillaume Corlin. The works, launched thanks to these contributions, strated over several decades along the Morgon, with the construction of the large hall (current auditorium) at the end of the seventeenth century and the decoration of the chapel around 1682.
Construction continued in the early 18th century with buildings closing the East Court, named in tribute to Charlotte Fresnay, a hospital historian. The ensemble has a classical facade inspired by the reign of Louis XIV, while the paintings of the chapel reflect an Italian Baroque style. Apothecary, classified as a historical monument and restored in 2020, illustrates the role of the hospital sisters of Charity. The hospital closed in 1982 after the transfer of activities to the new hospital in Gleizé.
The chapel, the jewel of the site, houses a compartmentalized ceiling decorated with canvases depicting biblical scenes (angels, prophets, evangelists) and cardinal virtues. Ranked with other parts of the building in 1984, it symbolizes the mixture of artistic and religious influences of the time. The hotel-Dieu, today a communal property, remains a major architectural and historical testimony of Villefranche-sur-Saône, opened on time to the public during heritage events.
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