[An illustration of a ship, symbolizing the symbol of Paris]

Histoire de Paris

Hospice des Quinze-Vingts
Touché par la détresse des aveugles de Paris, saint Louis fit édifier ici en 1260 un hospice destiné à en héberger 15 fois 20, soit 300. La tradition veut qu’on y ait d’abord logé ceux qui avaient eu les yeux crevés par les musulmans en Egypte durant la septième croisade. Eudes de Montreuil construisit la chapelle, érigée en église paroissiale dès 1282 et bordée d’un cimetière. Entreprise à partir de 1748 par Labbé et Martin, la reconstruction des bâtiments croulants de vétusté n’était pas terminée en 1772 lorsque les travaux furent arrêtés.

[Illustration of the Hospice]

L’hospice fut alors transféré au faubourg Saint-Antoine, dans la caserne des mousquetaires noirs de la rue de Charenton, et le cardinal de Rohan mit en vente terrains et bâtiments.

One of the series of signs describing historical places in Paris. The signs were placed starting in 1992 and are also called sucettes Starck (Starck’s Lollipops) after Philippe Starck who designed them.

The sign describes the place where the ophthalmology hospice was in the 13th century.

The place where the sign is located was photographed on the same day Click for a larger image

The illustration in the center of the sign is shown here at magnification Click for a larger image

Translation of the text on the sign:
[An illustration of a ship, symbolizing the symbol of Paris]

History of Paris

Quinze-Vingts Hospice
Touched by the distress of the blind of Paris, Saint Louis (Louis IX of France) had a hospice built here in 1260 intended to accommodate 15 times 20, or 300. Tradition has it that those who had had their eyes put out by the Muslims in Egypt during the Seventh Crusade. Eudes de Montreuil built the chapel, erected as a parish church in 1282 and bordered by a cemetery. Undertaken from 1748 by Labbé and Martin, the reconstruction of the crumbling buildings was not completed in 1772 when the work was stopped.

[Illustration of the Hospice]

The hospice was then transferred to the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, in the barracks of the black musketeers on rue de Charenton, and Cardinal de Rohan put the land and buildings up for sale.