Hôtel-Dieu of Tonnerre, Medieval hospital building in Tonnerre, France.
The Hôtel-Dieu of Tonnerre is a medieval hospital with a vast stone hall featuring high Gothic vaults that extend over a considerable length. The space concludes with a polygonal apse where stained glass windows filter light throughout the interior.
Marguerite of Burgundy founded this medical institution in 1293 to serve the local community. Local quarries and forests provided the materials needed to complete the building in a relatively short period.
The Great Hall includes four religious altars dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Saint John the Baptist, Saint Mary Magdalene, and Saint Elisabeth of Thuringia.
The building welcomes visitors year-round for guided tours with knowledgeable guides leading groups through the space. The flexible rooms can accommodate different group sizes for various purposes and gatherings.
A meridian line runs across the floor, installed in 1785 to function as a solar calendar tracking the sun's movement. This astronomical detail allowed people to follow the seasons and time of day based on how sunlight moved through the interior.
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