 |
| Hospice des Quinze-Vingts |
Location: 159 Saint Honoré
English translation
“Touched by the plight of the blind of Paris, Saint Louis had a hospice built here in 1260 to house 15 times 20, or 300. Tradition has it that the hospice first housed those whose eyes had been gouged out by Muslims in Egypt during the Seventh Crusade. Eudes de Montreuil built the chapel, which became a parish church in 1282 and was surrounded by a cemetery. Undertaken from 1748 by Labbé and Martin, reconstruction of the crumbling buildings was not completed in 1772 when work was halted. The hospice was then transferred to the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, in the barracks of the black musketeers on Rue de Charenton, and Cardinal de Rohan put the land and buildings up for sale.” (Translated by DeepL and ChatGPT)
Background notes
- Saint Louis refers to Louis IX, who was King of France from 1226 to 1270. He was known for his piety, justice, and charitable works, including founding the Hospice des Quinze-Vingts. Louis IX was canonized as a saint in 1297.
- The number 300 is written as 15 times 20 (Quinze-Vingts in French) because it reflects the medieval French counting system, which used a base-20 system for larger numbers. This naming convention became the official name of the hospice, referring to the number of patients it was intended to house.
- The story about building the hospice for crusaders whose eyes were gouged out is likely a legend. Historical evidence suggests that Louis IX founded the hospice in around 1260 to care for the blind poor of Paris, not specifically for crusaders.
- The chapel was built as part of the original hospice complex. It became a parish church in 1282 and was surrounded by a cemetery, serving as a spiritual center for the residents and a minor pilgrimage site due to Saint Louis's frequent visits and the indulgences granted there.
- Reconstruction work was halted in 1772 and the hospice was transferred in 1779 to Faubourg Saint-Antoine due to the crumbling state of the original buildings and the need for expansion.
- The black musketeers referred to were part of the King's Musketeers (named after the muskets they carried and the black horses they rode), an elite military unit in the royal household. Their former barracks on Rue de Charenton became the new location for the hospice.
- Cardinal de Rohan put the land and buildings on Rue Saint Honoré up for sale after the transfer of the hospice. Currently, there are no remnants of the original hospice at its former location. The area is now part of a busy commercial district.
- The Hospice des Quinze-Vingts still exists today as the Quinze-Vingts National Ophthalmology Hospital. It is the oldest institute for the blind in the world. It is still located at the same site it was moved to in 1779 - 28 Rue de Charenton in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. The hospital continues to specialise in ophthalmology and remains true to its original mission of eye care.
 |
| The current Hopital Quinze-Vingts on Rue de Charenton |
