A serene, historic oasis in the heart of the 10th arrondissement, crafted under Henry IV.
Description
Created in the early 17th century by Henry IV, the Hôpital Saint‑Louis Garden echoes the design of royal squares like Place des Vosges. Conceived by architects Claude Chastillon and Claude Vellefaux, it forms a 120m-square courtyard surrounded by brick-and-stone buildings that once housed patients and staff.
After serving as a healing cloister, the space opened to the public in 2005. It spans 9,400 m² filled with lawns, floral beds, landmark trees (including a remarkable Paulonia tomentosa), and stone benches. Open only on weekends from April to October, between 11 AM and 17–18 PM.
Visitors stroll, picnic, read, or reflect in a serene, historic hospital setting. The atmosphere is calm and timeless, ideal for families, locals, students, history enthusiasts, and anyone seeking peaceful respite.
Interesting anecdotes: the courtyard originally isolated plague patients during the 1605–1606 epidemics; Henry IV dedicated it to his ancestor Saint Louis. The adjacent chapel (opened in 1609 on rue de la Grange‑aux‑Belles) remains a testament to that era of quarantine and care.
Practical info: free entry, wheelchair-accessible, reachable via Goncourt (line 11) or Colonel Fabien (line 2) metro stations, with Vélib stations nearby.
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