Medicine and Charity – exploring the legacy of Hôtels-Dieu hospitals

Medicine and Charity: Hotels-Dieu from the Middle Ages to New France

A vibrant celebration of French and Quebec hospital heritage through exceptional collections

Hôtel-Dieu des Hospices de Beaune
Photo: Julie Kalan

Hôtels-Dieu hospitals have stood the test of time and are now recognized as true pioneers in patient care in Western societies. The international exhibition Medicine and Charity explores the legacy of these hospitals, founded in the Middle Ages, through the exceptional collections of four French Hôtels-Dieu: the Hôtel-Dieu de Tonnerre, the Hospices de Beaune, the Hôtel-Dieu de Chalon-sur-Saône, and the Hôtel-Dieu de Baugé, as well as Quebec’s Hôtels-Dieu.

Stained glass windows, sculptures, paintings, furniture, tapestries, everyday objects related to patient care, and archives will allow visitors to discover the extraordinary richness of French hospital heritage, as well as that of Quebec, mainly through the collections of the Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal and the Monastère des Augustines de Québec. The establishment of Hôtel-Dieu hospitals in New France in the 17th century is part of this long institutional tradition.

The exhibition also highlights women who played an essential role as founders or patrons, from Margaret of Burgundy to Jeanne Mance. The exposition is really a celebration of the history and heritage of hospitals in France and Québec stretching back hundreds of years.

Never-before-seen works
The exhibition presents nearly a hundred exceptional works and archives from France, classified as cultural property, which have never been exhibited in Canada. Among these artifacts is the Burgundian sculptural masterpiece La Vierge et l’Enfant, known as Vierge à l’encrier (Chalon-sur-Saône), an exceptional piece attributed to Antoine Le Moiturier and created at the end of the 15th century.

Enrich your experience with a guided tour
Every third Thursday of the month during Museum Evenings, enjoy a guided tour of the Medicine and Charity exhibition. The activity begins at 6 pm and is open to all. The tour is free for visitors with an admission ticket. However, places are limited.

Until September 13th, 2026

For more information, visit: www.museedeshospitalieres.qc.ca

Musée des Hospitalières de l’Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal
201 Pine Avenue West
Montreal, Quebec H2W 1R5