Guided tour
The Salpêtrière Hospital

L’hôpital de la Salpêtrière – la façade principale
Presentation
Built between 1658 and 1780 by most famous architects such as Liberal Bruant, Louis le Vau, Antoine Duval, Barthélémy de Dieppe, Germain Boffrand and Jacques Antoine Payen, the Paris hospital La Salpétrière belongs to the general Paris hospitals founded under Louis XIV.
Converted into a prison in 1680 (prison de la Petite Force) more than 8000 ‘insane women’ were incarcerated in poor conditions until the French Revolution (the Petites loges are still visible) when Philippe Pinel, a qualified medical officer expert in psychiatry implemented radical changes in the diagnosis of mental diseases.
Designed by Louis Le Vau, who also built Versailles castle, the Saint Louis chapel is topped with a dome, the hospital buildings are typical of the classical style.

L’hôpital de la Salpêtrière – La chapelle Saint-louis de Louis Le Vau
We only take reservations for groups. We cannot link single people to a group.
Usefull information :
– Meeting point : main entrance, 47 boulevard de l’Hôpital
– Duration : 2 hours
– Guided tour in English

the Petites Loges
Prices :
– family/friends package (up to 5 people) : 100 €
– group package from 6 to 9 people : 120 €
– group from 10 people : 13 € per participant
– children less than 13 years : 8 €
– school groups or students : 10 € per participant (minimum 10 participants).

Salpêtrière hospital – the chapel
Booking :
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