Tipps-4-Trips - #Tip33 -- L’Hôtel-Dieu, Hautefort

Founded in 1669 by the Marquis Jacques-François de Hautefort (1609-1680), the Hôtel Dieu de Hautefort in Périgord was not completed until 1717. It was a rare hospital foundation with a Greek cross architecture, unique in Nouvelle Aquitaine and in France. The plan was that each of the three rooms should accommodate 11 women (in the Holy Spirit room), 11 men (in the Eternal Father room) and 11 boys (in the Divine Word room), symbolizing the 33 years of the life of Jesus Christ. The building, which took half a century to construct, was first occupied by the poor as early as 1685. In 1747, the Marquis's brother called on the Sisters of Charity of Nevers, who remained in Hautefort until 1995.