Maison coloniale de santé, hospital
The Maison coloniale de santé is a former hospital facility in Saint-Pierre that operated from 1837 as a medical institution. The complex comprised several connected structures with patient quarters, therapeutic baths, and healing gardens positioned near the Roxelane River.
The facility was established in 1837 and operated as a hospital until 1902, accommodating about 150 patients at its peak. The eruption of Mount Pelée on 8 May 1902 devastated Saint-Pierre and destroyed much of the building, killing patients and staff who were present.
The facility was run by sisters from the Saint-Paul de Chartres congregation and served as a care center for the community. The presence of thermal baths and healing gardens reflected 19th-century beliefs about water therapy and its role in treating patients.
The site is accessible with visible ruins showing original walls and structural remains from the complex. Visitors should expect uneven ground and exercise caution around damaged structures, as the ruins are still exposed to the elements.
Archaeological digs in the 1990s uncovered foundations, cisterns, and drainage systems that reveal how sophisticated the infrastructure was for medical care. These details show advanced 19th-century understanding of water management and sanitation in a colonial health facility.
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