Hospices de Beaune, Gothic hospital and winery in Beaune, France
The Hospices de Beaune is a former hospital and winery in Beaune, France, whose late Gothic building complex features a polychrome tiled roof with geometric patterns. The estate's vineyards span 60 hectares across several Burgundy appellations, with most plots classified as Premier or Grand Cru.
Nicolas Rolin, chancellor to the Duke of Burgundy, and his wife Guigone de Salins founded the institution in 1443 to care for the population after the Hundred Years War. Over the centuries, the holdings expanded through donations of numerous vineyard plots that supported its operations.
The November wine sale continues a practice where fine vintages are auctioned to fund charity work. Wine lovers from around the world travel to this social event, held in a late Gothic care facility that still raises money for its original purpose.
The building complex is open year-round, while the wine cellars are accessible seasonally and recommend booking ahead. The courtyard and main rooms can be explored even in rain, as many areas are covered or linked by arcades.
Patients were cared for over five centuries in a high wooden-vaulted ward whose furnishings remain original today. Much of the wine production comes from plots bequeathed by wealthy townspeople and noble families.
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