Audio GuideMusée d’histoire de la médecine
Musée d'Histoire de la Médecine
Quaint museum in a century-old digs featuring a broad collection of historical medical instruments.
Museum
Paris, France
Welcome to the Musée d'Histoire de la Médecine, a distinctive museum situated in a historic building in the sixth arrondissement of Paris. Originally built as a library in the year nineteen hundred and five, the building was later converted into an anatomical cabinet. Today, it is home to one of the oldest and most extensive collections of medical instruments and artefacts in Europe.
The origins of the museum’s collection date back to the reign of Louis the Fifteenth, when Professor Lafaye's donation laid the foundation for its growth. Over the years, the collection expanded to include surgical tools, anatomical models, wax sculptures, and paintings from the former Faculty of Medicine. Among the highlights is an eighteenth-century mannequin by Felice Fontana, an artefact that beautifully illustrates the artistic and scientific interests of its era.
As visitors explore its three rooms, they will find items spanning various fields such as emergency surgery, gynaecology, dentistry, otorhinolaryngology, pharmacy, and physiology. Antique instruments are displayed alongside modern surgical tools, showcasing the evolution of medical practices throughout the ages. The exhibits also shed light on historical epidemics, medical breakthroughs, and the accomplishments of notable practitioners.
Managed by Université Paris-Cité, the museum combines academic scholarship with captivating displays, making it an intriguing destination for visitors in their mid-twenties to forties who are keen to delve into the rich history of medicine, science, and art in Europe.
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