Description
Extensive apothecary located in a former 17th-century convent that became a hospital in the 19th century. Remarkable collection of jars from the 16th to 19th centuries.
The apothecary of Saint-Amour features an astonishing décor in a 17th century convent that became a hospital in the 19th century.
Built between 1819 and 1824, in the former 17th-century Capuchin convent, this hospital was a major establishment at the time, caring for the sick for over 100 years. Today, the well-preserved and carefully restored building has become a Maison de Santé. The original wards and chapel can still be seen.
The apothecary of this former hospital, the forerunner of our pharmacies, is certainly one of the most spacious in the Jura and even in Franche-Comté.
The main room, known as the preparatory room, features magnificent wood panelling by a Saint-Amour cabinetmaker, trompe-l'œil decorations, a medallion decorated with flowers and medicinal plants, and a floor of local marble stone.
During a guided tour, you'll discover a surprising place: its herbal furniture and its collection of over 300 jars from different periods, from the 16th to the 19th centuries, including two mysterious 16th-century jars. Theriac jars, chevrettes, pillboxes, cannon jars, glass jars, instruments for measuring and preparing remedies... You'll be able to observe a wide variety of containers and understand their uses.
Immerse yourself in the hospital history of the town of Saint-Amour, marked by almost 1000 years of hospital tradition, since the first place to receive the sick dates back to the 11th century!
