Medicine and Charity: Hotels-Dieu from the Middle Ages to New France
October 15th, 2025 to September 13th, 2026
A vibrant celebration of French and Quebec hospital heritage through exceptional collections
The exhibition
Hôtels-Dieu hospitals have stood the test of time and are now recognized as true pioneers in patient care in Western societies. The international exhibition Medicine and Charity explores the legacy of these hospitals, founded in the Middle Ages, through the exceptional collections of four French Hôtels-Dieu: the Hôtel-Dieu de Tonnerre, the Hospices de Beaune, the Hôtel-Dieu de Chalon-sur-Saône, and the Hôtel-Dieu de Baugé, as well as Quebec's Hôtels-Dieu.
Stained glass windows, sculptures, paintings, furniture, tapestries, everyday objects related to patient care, and archives will allow visitors to discover the extraordinary richness of French hospital heritage, as well as that of Quebec, mainly through the collections of the Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal and the Monastère des Augustines de Québec. The establishment of Hôtel-Dieu hospitals in New France in the 17th century is part of this long institutional tradition.
Credits and curator
An exhibition by the Musée des Hospitalières, curated by Paul Labonne, historian, museum professional and general director of the museum.
This project is supported by the Société des Attractions Touristiques du Québec through the Tourism Growth Program of Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. The Musée des Hospitalières also thanks the City of Montreal, the Government of Quebec, and the Hospitalières de Saint-Joseph.