Caen, Hôtel-Dieu.
The
existence of the Hôtel-Dieu is attested from 1160 but its creation was
probably earlier than this and due to Henri II Plantagenêt. It was intended
to minister to the poor and has also been referred to as the hospital of
Saint-Antoine and Saint-Thomas. During the 12th century, it was run
by a prior assisted by five canons and ten monks. All the constructions and
land that make up the Hôtel-Dieu comprise a ground plan of over 20,000 m2.
During the 13th century a large vaulted hall was built 120 m by 31
m, which is taken to be the first major gothic construction in Caen. The
renovations to the Singer district in 1830 led to the destruction of the
Hôtel-Dieu. The lapidary fragments presented here originate from the chapel
of the Hôpital and were recovered during this process of destruction.
Caen, Hôtel-Dieu : lapidary
fragments
Capital
Fin du XIIème siècle
|
Springing stone
Fin du XIIème siècle |
The bequest of the Musée de
la Société des Antiquaires de Normandie (Museum of the Society of
Antiquaries of Normandy)