A few landmarks...From an almshouse to a general hospital

Carpentras was originally governed by Toulouse (until the Treaty of Paris, in 1229),then by the Vatican (from 1274 when the Pope took possession of the Comtat until 1791).From the Middle Ages, there were several hospitals, a lazaret house...The memory of which is still present in such place names as “rue du Vieil Hôpital” (towncenter), “la maloutière”(on the bank of the Auzon river).

Charity and repression in the 17th and 18th centuriesTogether with new customs, came new policies and newfoundations. 1669 : the house of charity or Saint-Jean-de-Dieu’s Houseof charity was founded for the purpose of “confining” ofmale and female paupers (between eighty and two hundredpatients were registred).

Late 17th century : Canon Paul d’Andrée de Rainoard foundedthe convent of the Visitandines of the Saintes-Maries,nursing sisters of the order of Saint François de Sales (ruede la Tour) and the Notre Dame de la Garde Home, towelcome “maids in danger”(rue du Refuge).

Better medicine and hygiene in the 17th and 18th centuriesGreat discoveries and scientific progress, like blood’s circulation, had an influence onmedicine and hygiene.The policy of French monarchs was to develop hospitals and endeavour to specialise themsolely in medical care, a trend followed also in the Comtat.

Provence and Comtat VenaissinThe two provinces suffered the same fate : the plague struck again in 1720. The Comtatpoured in aid towards better living conditions for the population :

- efforts at making better roads : cobblestone streets planted with round-shaped stones anda ban on manure heaps,

- the rebuilding of the Clement V’s aqueduct (harnessing of the springs of Caromb) byAntoine d’Allemand (1679-1760) and Jean de Clapiès (1670-1740), both of whom were“Engineers of the King” to supply better the fountains of the city.

A passionate bishopDom Malachie d’Inguimbert (1683-1757) became the bishopof Carpentras, his hometown, in 1735.A former Dominicain, he nevertheless opted for the Trappistrule in view to a greater rigour. He lived in Italy for a longtime, where he held several important positions. In Rome,he became the confessor of Pope Clement XII.He dedicated his substantial Episcopal pay to his town.He founded one of the former public library in France andthe Hotel-Dieu (general hospital) : the foundation stone waslaid on September 18th, 1750. The architect was Antoined’Allemand, who also built the aqueduct and the synagogue.The hospital was completed within 11 years only.His program was “to take good care of the poors thanks to the scientific progress and theart beauty”.

Devote and competent sistersThe Pharmacist Sisters were Sisters of Mercy. Their knowledge seems to have beentransmitted orally. The Nursing Sisters of the Augustine order, came from a convent inCaromb and settled in Carpentras in 1761.

Description of the monumentThe esplanade of Hôtel-DieuAt the crossroads of the routes from Avignon, Pernes, Saint-Didier, Mazan, the Hôtel-Dieuis located in the south-east-part of the town, where the prevailing winds can blow theputrid fumes away to the country. The statue of his Lordship d’Inguimbert was set up in the 19th century. A long plain façade, to the west, overlooks the town, topped by large sculpted pots bearingflames. A number of buildings surround the courtyards and gardens. - To the north (that is, to the left when coming in through the porch), the pharmacy, thechapel and the convent are the domain of the Nursing and Pharmacist Sisters). - To the south (that is, to the right when coming in through the porch), are the sick wards,

looking into a large garden.

The façadeMain body in Saint-Didier freestone : wide arched windows, curvilinearpediments ; masks of the four seasons ; sculptures in relief at firstfloor level ; balustrade and six out-of-scale bearing flames (3.5m);projecting triangular pediment and cartouche with the inscription :Hôtel-Dieu.

Portrait of Dom Malachie d’Inguimbert,Inguimbertine Library of Carpentras

The entrance and the porchArched gate topped by the dedication to his Lordship d’Inguimbert. Ionic and corinthiancapitals or pillars. Porch : double-groin vault, large and refined polychrome rose window.

The courtyardTo the left, the pharmacy. To the right, the sick ward : fake windows for symetry, nicewrought-iron railings at the balconies and two fountains of the 19th century.

Pho

to s

ervi

ce T

ouris

me

et C

ultu

re /

CoV

e

The grand galleryGrand staircase (1759) with two suspended flights of stairs decorated with a wrought-ironbanister and a statue of Virgin Mary attributed to Pierre Bernard. The stained-glass windows from the 19th century represent the allegories of Charity andKnowledge, alluding to his Lordship d’Inguimbert’s work.The grand gallery, vaulted with basket-handle arches is adorned with 281paintings (dating from 1731 to 1948). They commemorate the donations madeto the hospital.

The chapel (with a baroque influence)The richest materials were used in this sacred place : red marble and ornate frieze, inthe « Roman style ». Look at the fine architecture : double-groin vaults in the nave, domeand pendentives in the choir, ribbed cul-de-four in the apse. The contagious sick could beto the mass in a tribune, separated to the other sick. The nuns attend to the service ina room next to the nave, behind a claustra.The baroque altar is made up with polychrome Italian marbles. It is surmounted by abaldaquin, with wreathed columns.

To get a fuller view of Hôtel-Dieu, take a walk around it starting along the north sideand admire the awe-inspiring buildings overlooking the plain.

The pharmacy of the Hôtel-Dieu in Carpentras, a pharmacopoeia of the 18th century

The pharmacy of Hôtel-Dieu was constructed at the same time as the wholebuilding (1750-1763). It lies in the north wing.A detailed inventory of materials made by the rectors of the hospital in August1763 proves that, from that date, everything was in operation.

The pharmacopoeia is typical of the Age ofEnlightenment, as show by this Latin phrase,inscribed above the glass-windowed cupboard thatwelcomes the visitor :

“herbis non verbis fiunt medicamina vitae”(The plants care, not the words)

It’s evident that, here, medical care takes priority : patients will be treated and notmerely taken in.

The classification of drugs is different from today’s classification :

- there are traditional products, e.g. opium, a narcotic in use since the AncientEgyptians (8th century B.C.) and such substitutes as poppy and peony.

- there are also mysterious products dating back to the dawn of times, for whichlearned chemistry meets folk cure, e.g. dragonblood, addertroches, crayfish eyes (jars in cupboard), mummy (drawer).

- also to be found are new compositions : since the greatdiscoveries of the 16th century and the scientific progressof the 17th century, the amount of products increased, thedrug elaborated processes became more varied.

Brand new drugs (to be found in the drawers) came fromthe Americas : cincona (Peru), a febrifuge bark, ipecacuhana(Brazil), a purgative root ; gaiac (America), a sudorificwood.

Photo Office de Tourisme/Carpentras

These drugs are placed side by side with local plants from thepast (e.g. Chinese lantern, wormwood, fennel), and withthe eastern products in use since the Middle Ages : incense(diuretic and expectorant), myrrh (stimulates the appetite,astringent), galbanum (emmenagogue), rhubarb, liquorice …

The numerous drawers and jars show the nurses aimed to makea remedy that would accurately suit the patient’sillness and condition.

The most common plants were not sold because everyone could find themeverywhere : thyme, rosemary, lavender …

As you walk around the shop …

The shop is part of a number of rooms dedicated to thepreparation of drugs : its proper function was to display them,or even to sell them at a cheap price to the inhabitants of the town.

Ornementation : the painted panelling paintings, in variousshades of blue and brown and fake marbles, where first attributed to Joseph SiffredDuplessis (1725-1802), a Carpentras painter, Louis XVI’s portraitist. They wouldrather be the work of his father Joseph-Guillaume. Drawings on the doors and thedisplay cabinet : allegories of the four seasons.

The cupboards : wooded landscapes (rivers, waterfalls, elements of architecture,passerbys, anglers…), Rousseau-like atmosphere ; four cupboards : brown-ochre,apothecary and farming monkeys. Scenes : tooth extraction, clyster, bloodletting,a scene in a pharmacy. This paintings of Alexis Peyrotte reflects this age’stypical attraction for exotic scenes.

The original pieces of furniture consist of the walnut counter and the benches.

The drawers : 178 drawers, 80 percent of which are fil-led with vegetal drugs, the rest contain minerals(sulphur, alum…), a few animal products (antlers,ivory, coral); the general classification is not clear.There are expectorants, stomachics, emetics,emmenagogues, vulneraries… P

hoto

Offi

ce d

e T

ouris

me/

Car

pent

ras

Pho

to s

ervi

ce T

ouris

me

et C

ultu

re /

CoV

e

Pho

to s

ervi

ce T

ouris

me

et C

ultu

re /

CoV

e

Notice the Gothic lettering, the free spelling, the useof terms which are obsolete nowadays (e.g. karabé =amber, ballauste = pomegranate) ; the “grabeaux” arebroken little pieces (e.g. “grabeaux” of incense).

The plaster cabinetThirty compartments containing materials to makesoft local remedies : poultices, compresses…

The glasswareNotice the series of forty flat-bottomed phials on theupper shelves : distilled water.About thirty-five glasses in the “chemistry cabinet”(display cabinet), notice the enamelled stems, the lidsin greased paper.

The jars Their shape could vary with their use.

The multicoloured jars : often very old, they come from the medieval hospitalsof the town, that Hôtel-Dieu replaced ; Barcelona jars : two round-shaped jars.Spice jars, with a blue enamelled ornamentation : stylised palms, 16th century.Small urns in golden clay (Pisa Daurada), 16th century.Series of six jars : ornamentation : large fig leaves and tendrils, blue and orange,Lyons, late 16th century. Series of six Albarelli : Syjalon workshops, Nîmes, late16th century. Intense blue, water green, yellow inscription in Gothic lettering ;ornamentation : branches, masks, a dolphin springing out.

Great series in blue monochromes ewers from Moustiers18th century. Notice the ewers handles of which are sylphids ; “pots canons” (inthe shape of a barrel, with a lid, early 18th century). Ornamentation : a head amongscrolls, fleshy fruit. Various shades of blueand manganese.

Three big «display jars» great urns onsmall pedestals, lids : head of a ram, masksand lion’s muzzles. Scrolls, garlands, latticein a monochrome of blue and manganese(Marseille, 18th century). P

hoto

Offi

ce d

e T

ouris

me

/ C

arpe

ntra

sP

hoto

ser

vice

Tou

rism

e et

Cul

ture

/ C

oVe

Pho

to s

ervi

ce T

ouris

me

et C

ultu

re /

CoV

e

Discovery tours, with qualified tour guides, are available from April to October.Contact the Tourist Office

HOTEL DIEUPlace Aristide Briand

84200 CARPENTRASTel : 04 90 63 00 78 - Fax : 04 90 60 41 02

Mail : office@carpentas.fr

Booklet realized by the Carpentras Communication / événementiel officeWritten by La CoVe’s Board of Tourism and Culture (Communauté d’Agglomération Ventoux – Comtat Venaissin).Portrait of Dom Malachie d’Inguimbert extracted of : Robert Caillet, Monseigneur d’Inguimbert, Audin, 1952.

How to Cometo the H�tel Dieu...?

15 september - 15 junemonday to saturday

9:30 - 12:30 / 2 - 6 pm

Bank holidays from Easter on9:30 - 1 pm

15 june - 15 septembermonday to saturday

9:30 - 1 pm / 2 - 7 pm

Sundays & Bank holidays9:30 - 1 pm

Tourist Office opening hours