Hospice général de Lille, Historical monument in Old Lille, France.
Hospice général de Lille is a classical 18th-century building stretching 140 meters along Avenue du Peuble Belge, featuring Ionic columns and a central pediment. The structure is organized around four interior courtyards with two pavilions at the ends, creating a balanced and symmetrical composition.
King Louis XV authorized the founding of this establishment in 1738 under royal architect Pierre Vigné de Vigny's direction. It was built to shelter abandoned children and disabled people, serving as a major welfare institution in the city for many years.
For centuries, locals saw this place as a symbol of care, since it sheltered children and those in need. The building's classical design and its layout around inner courtyards still convey a sense of order and purpose to visitors today.
The building is located in the historic old town along a wide avenue and is easily reached on foot. Since it now houses a business school, interior access may be limited, but the classical facade and exterior details are readily viewable from the street.
On the ground floor of a wing overlooking an interior courtyard sits a former pharmacy with its original furnace and preparation room still intact. These spaces offer a rare glimpse into the daily medical care that took place within these walls centuries ago.
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