Hôtel-Dieu de Bourg-en-Bresse

The Hôtel-Dieu de Bourg-en-Bresse is an 18th-century hospital with a central cloister surrounded by medical buildings and topped with a distinctive dome. The complex contains original rooms including a functioning apothecary with three separate chambers.

Construction began in 1782 under Gaspard Chauverêche's supervision, following architect Pierre-Adrien Pâris's plans. The building was designed as a medical institution reflecting enlightened ideas about care for the sick.

The apothecary displays Louis XV-style furnishings with ceramic and glass containers that reflect the medical craftsmanship of earlier times. These rooms offer a glimpse into the daily work of healers and pharmacists who worked here.

Visitors can explore the rooms on guided tours that show the architecture and medical functions. It is best to check ahead about opening times, as these vary depending on the season.

The preserved apothecary contains copper stills, mortars, and a 19th-century furnace showing how medicines were made. This rare collection of equipment gives a direct sense of pharmaceutical methods from the past.