Musée de l'Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Medical museum in 5th arrondissement, Paris, France
The Musée de l'Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris documents the evolution of medical care through a collection of around 10,000 objects, including paintings, furniture, pharmaceutical items, and historical medical instruments. The holdings reveal how Parisian hospital practices and patient care developed across centuries.
The museum was founded in 1934 and housed in the Hôtel de Miramion, a 17th-century building that previously served as a Catholic school and central pharmacy for Parisian hospitals. The location itself reflects the deep roots of medical care in the city.
The museum displays tokens and personal objects that parents left when abandoning their children at hospitals, a practice that persisted until the mid-19th century. These items tell quiet stories of desperate families and the social hardships they faced during that era.
The museum is best reached on foot from the Latin Quarter, where many other attractions are located nearby. Visitors should check ahead to learn about any special presentations or exhibition themes during their visit.
A specially designed garden in the museum's courtyard grows around 65 medicinal plants, bringing historical pharmacy practices to life. This living collection shows visitors which herbs and plants were once used for healing purposes.
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