Consider this building the Hospice général a symbol of French classicism. Its triangular fronton displays the sun of King Louis XIV. He brought Lille into France. He also created the concept of general hospitals.
Let’s delve into the story of this magnificent structure. The Hospice général de Lille was established in 1738. Louis XV authorized it. It aimed to house abandoned children. It also sheltered invalids and beggars.
Construction began in 1739. Pierre Vigné de Vigny was the architect. The hospital opened its doors in 1743. It welcomed 500 adults and 680 children. However construction continued until 1780. The hospital expanded further in 1824 and 1835. Work finally stopped in 1846.
The Hospice général is located at the northwest end of Lille’s expansion. This expansion followed Louis XIV’s conquest of the city in 1667. The main facade faced the Basse-Deûle quay. This was near the water gate. The waterway crossed the rampart here. Until the 19th century the Basse-Deûle was a river port. A ditch ran along the back of the hospice. It flowed inside the rampart.
The façade stretches 140 meters. Two pavilions frame it at each end. A monumental porch stands in the center. It features a triangular pediment. This displays a sun. It is the emblem of Louis XIV. He created general hospitals. The courtyard features arcades. These echo the facade’s motifs.
Interestingly during World War I the Hospice général sheltered French and English wounded. They were sent by the Germans. In 1915 the hospice housed about 1,800 people. This included patients and staff.
Most residents were moved in 1973. This followed a scandal about their living conditions. However it officially remained a retirement home until 1988.
Parts of the buildings were demolished around 1980. The facade and courtyard area remained. A retirement home was built behind the former hospice. It partly occupies the demolished wings’ site.
Since 1997 the Institut d’Administration des Entreprises occupies the facade building. This transformation occurred after renovations.
The building earned the nickname “Bleu Tot”. Its slate roof shared the same color. The exterior and interior facades are protected. The grand staircase and chapel also have protection. They were listed as historical monuments in 1948.
On the ground floor, find the old hospital pharmacy. It has a preparation room and furnace. The Association du Musée Hospitalier Régional de Lille organizes visits.
Pierre Vignê de Vigny drew inspiration from the Hôtel des Invalides. His plans included a rectangular complex. It would be divided into six courtyards. Only four courtyards were built.
Each building has a half-buried basement. A raised ground floor stands on a large base. There are three floors. One is a mansard roof. Corridors serve these floors. Attics complete the structure. The buildings use sandstone bases. Limestone, stone and brick make up the walls. The corridor floors are blue stone. Slate covers the roofs. The Hospice général de Lille stands as a testament to history. It shows architectural evolution. It has transformed from a refuge to a place of learning.