Faculty of Medicine of Montpellier, Medical school in Montpellier, France
The Faculty of Medicine sits in a former monastery building beside St. Peter's Cathedral, displaying classical architecture developed over several periods. Inside, lecture halls, a historic library, and museum rooms connect as a working center for teaching and research.
Founded in 1220, it stands as the oldest continuously operating medical school in the Western world. It survived reforms and changes across centuries while training doctors without interruption.
The building houses one of Europe's oldest medical collections, showing how physicians passed knowledge across centuries through hands-on study. These spaces were where learners gathered to study the human body through direct observation and practice.
The building sits centrally in Montpellier and is easily reached by public transport. Visitors should plan ahead since tours and access times may be limited.
The Conservatory of Anatomy preserved thousands of wax-modeled body parts that physicians used for teaching across generations. This collection shows a forgotten method of medical learning before modern technology changed education.
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