Ancien Hôpital Cazin-Perrochaud
Monument
Ancien Hôpital Cazin-Perrochaud, located in Berck (Pas-de-Calais), is a medieval landmark built in the Middle Ages. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Medieval (11th-15th century)
- Location
- Berck, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 50.4131, 1.5633
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00108198
In Berck-sur-Mer, the former Cazin-Perrochaud hospital houses a chapel adorned with symbolist frescoes by Albert Besnard and Francis Jourdain - an artistic jewel born of a miraculous cure.
History
Nestling in the seaside resort of Berck-sur-Mer on the Côte d'Opale, the former Cazin-Perrochaud hospital is one of the most moving testimonies to the humanist medicine of the Belle Époque. Founded at the end of the 19th century within the walls of a converted Grand Hôtel, this establishment specialising in the treatment of sick children is notable not only for its medical history, but also for the extraordinary artistic décor of its chapel dedicated to Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. What makes this place absolutely unique is the convergence between its therapeutic vocation and the high-level artistic expression that has found a home here. The chapel, built in 1898 in gratitude for the cure of a child, is entirely decorated with symbolist paintings by the couple Albert Besnard and Charlotte Besnard, and the painter Francis Jourdain. This iconographic programme of rare ambition blends Christian dogma with humanist reflections on suffering, science and charity. For the discerning visitor, exploring the chapel is a gripping experience. The eight large painted panels unfold a poignant visual narrative: on the one hand, the miseries and vices that plague humanity; on the other, the promise of regeneration brought about by medical science and compassion. Four paintings of saints helping the afflicted complete this remarkably coherent iconography, in which the sacred and the profane respond to each other with rare eloquence. The setting of Berck-sur-Mer adds an extra dimension to the visit. Since the 19th century, the town has been renowned for the therapeutic virtues of its sea air and iodine beaches, attracting a colony of artists and wealthy families in search of health care. It was in this context of faith in medicine and confidence in art that the Cazin-Perrochaud hospital saw the birth of one of the most original painted chapels in Northern France.
Architecture
The former Cazin-Perrochaud hospital is in the tradition of late 19th-century care establishments, characterised by functional, sober architecture, heir to the Haussmann model and the philanthropic hospital programmes of the Third Republic. Built on the site of a former Grand Hotel, the main building retains the generous volumes and regular layout typical of Second Empire seaside buildings, with ordered facades, wide windows to let in the light and an internal organisation that facilitates the movement of carers. The Sainte-Élisabeth-de-Hongrie chapel, built in 1898, is the centrepiece of the complex. Modest in size, it follows in the tradition of hospital chapels of the late 19th century, with an elongated floor plan and a single nave that encourages contemplation. Its architectural interest lies less in its exterior volumes than in the extraordinary richness of its interior decoration: murals by Albert and Charlotte Besnard, as well as works by Francis Jourdain, line the walls of the nave and choir, creating a total pictorial environment characteristic of the Symbolist movement and the influences of late Art Nouveau. The building materials, typical of the region, probably combine northern brick and limestone, while the roof is probably covered in slate in accordance with Picardy and Artesian practices of the period. The architectural ensemble is a coherent testimony to the medico-religious ideal that animated the charitable institutions of the Belle Époque.
Related Figures
Albert Besnard — peintre officiel de la IIIe République, auteur principal du décor peint de la chapelleCharlotte Besnard — sculptrice, épouse d'Albert Besnard, co-auteure des œuvres de la chapelleFrancis Jourdain — peintre et décorateur, contributeur au programme iconographique de la chapelleLes sœurs franciscaines — religieuses gestionnaires de l'hôpital à partir de 1892Les familles Cazin et Perrochaud — philanthropes donateurs ayant donné leur nom à l'établissement
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ancien Hôpital Cazin-Perrochaud located?
Ancien Hôpital Cazin-Perrochaud is located in Berck, Pas-de-Calais department, Hauts-de-France region, France.
When was Ancien Hôpital Cazin-Perrochaud built?
Ancien Hôpital Cazin-Perrochaud dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Ancien Hôpital Cazin-Perrochaud open to visitors?
Ancien Hôpital Cazin-Perrochaud is currently closed to visitors.