LYON GRAND HOTEL-DIEU :The RENAISSANCE Of A PRESTIGIOUS HISTORIC MONUMENT

USPA NEWS - Hôtel-Dieu de Lyon was a Hospital of Historical Significance. First erected in Medieval Times, the Building originally served as the "Confrérie Des Frères Pontifes", a Pontifical Meeting-Place and Refuge for both Traveling and Local Members of the Clergy. However, when the First Doctor Maître Martin Conras was hired in 1454, 'Hôtel-Dieu' became a Fully Functional Hospital, one of the most important in France. As Lyon was a City known for its Trade and Seasonal Fairs, many of the Early Patients were Weary Travelers of Foreign Descent.

Hôtel-Dieu de Lyon was a Hospital of Historical Significance. First erected in Medieval Times, the Building originally served as the "Confrérie Des Frères Pontifes", a Pontifical Meeting-Place and Refuge for both Traveling and Local Members of the Clergy. However, when the First Doctor Maître Martin Conras was hired in 1454, 'Hôtel-Dieu' became a Fully Functional Hospital, one of the most important in France. As Lyon was a City known for its Trade and Seasonal Fairs, many of the Early Patients were Weary Travelers of Foreign Descent.

Formely Home of a Hospice, Hospital and Maternity Ward, the Grand Hôtel-Dieu has always been a Place of Birth and Life, looking toward the Future with its New Medical Techniques. Today, the Building has been reinvented for New Urban and Contemporary uses : Living, Walking, Eating, Leisure, Working, Travelling, Meetinf Others, Relaxation, Learning, Discovering... Open to the City on All Sides with Magestic Entrances and Stores, it offers a New City-Center Walk designed around Courtyards and Gardens each with their Own Unique Appeal.

The Largest Historical Building Conversion Programme in France :

The Project involves the Rehabilitation and Creation of a 51,500 m2 of Space within the Grounds of Several Listed Buildings. The Site will eventually comprise 17,365 m2 of Shops and Restaurants as well as a Tertiary Complex of nearly 13,500 m2 (delivered at the end of 2017), a 143-Room, Five-Star Intercontinental Hotel (13,237 m2), a 2,740 m2 Convention Centre, 837 m2 of Housing and the Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie (3,823 m2 excluding Acquisitions). The Asset Value and Heritage Significance of the Project demanded the very highest quality standards quality Craftsmanship. Most of the Facade Rendering has been conserved, cleaned and repolished. The Grand Dôme was given a Facelift for a smoother, more unified finish. The Roof and its Copper Elements have been renovated. The Petit Dôme, a Masterpiece of 17th Century Architecture, was relieved of its old paintwork to emphasise the Original Stucco Marble Finish. The Lantern Skylight was reopened and stained glass replaced. Woodwork was refurbished and repainted. Stained Glass Windows were repaired and protected from humidity....

KEY DATES :

* XIIth Century : First Foundations of The Hôtel-Dieu are laid.

* XIIth-XIXthe Centuries : Building Construction and Improvements according to the Plans of Architect Jacques Germain Soufflot. Over the Years, the Hospital became one of the most Respected Medical Facilities in France.

* August 1914 : Requisitoned by the French Army as a Hospital to treat Wounded Soldiers during World War I.

* September 4, 1944 : The Grand Dôme was destroyed by a Fire during World War II. In the 1960s, Funds were allocated to rebuild teh Grand Dôme.

* From 2007 to 2010 : All Medical and Hospital Services still present on the Hôtel-Dieu Site were gradually transferred to other Locations around the City and Suburbs.

* February 22, 2011 : Eiffage Immobilier and The Hospice Civils De Lyon sign a Lease Agreement.

* November 2011 : The Grand Hôtel-Dieu is registered as a Historic Monument.

* December 2014 : A Building Lease is signed between The Hospices Civils de Lyon and Eiffage.

* April 3, 2015 : Work is officially launched at a Ceremony attended by Fleur Pellerin, Minister of Culture and Communication, and Gérard Collomb, Senator, Mayor of Lyon and President of The Grand Metropolitan Area. Designed by Albert Constantin & Didier Repellin.

* June 12, 2015 : Acquisition of Grand Hôtel-Dieu by the Credit Agricole Assurances in Partnership with The Caisse Regionale De Crédit Agricole Centre-Est.

* March 2016 : Commercialisation Phase is launched by Scaprim.

* April 27, 2018 : Opening of The Grand Hôtel-Dieu and launch of the Inaugural Festival.

- EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS (September 15-16, 2018) :

Created in 1984 by the Ministry of Culture and Communication, the European Heritage Days take place on the Third Weekend of September Every Year. As the Cultural Event of the Autumn, these days are Proof of French People´s Interest in the History of Places and Art. The Success of the Event relies on the great variety of Heritage Attractions on Offer to Visitors. Combining many Different Initiatives, the European Heritage Days are an Occasion for Large Numbers of Visitors to discover Public Buildings (Élysée Palace, Senate, Ministries, Embassies, Prefectures, Town Halls, and also Theatres, Hospitals, Schools and Gymnasia), and Private Buildings (Villas, Castles, Factories) which open their Doors to the Public just for this Occasion. All these Monuments, as well as Monuments which are regularly open to the Public, offer Special Activities for the Event : Guided Tours, Skills Demonstrations, Concerts, Theatre Performances and Themed Circuits.

- A DÉFILÉ FOR PEACE (Sunday September 16, 2018. From 2.30 pm). Parade for Peace through the Streets of Lyon (remembering the Centenary of the end of World War I) :

For more than 20 Years, the Défilé has been part of the Policy to showcase Working-Class Neighbourhoods and their Residents, while promoting and embodying a Social, Generational and Geographic Mix. The Défilé is a Choreographed Parade which, Every Two Years, brings together 4,500 Amateur Participants aged 10 to 80, from more than 500 Municipalities across the Region, supervised by 250 Professional Artists under Choreographers´ Direction. In charge of the Event´s General and Financial Organisation is a Steering Committee chaired by Mme Myriam Picot, Lyon Métropole Vice-President for Culture.

"Peace is not only the absence of war : as long as there is racism, intolerance and exclusion, we do not live in a peaceful world." said Dominique Hervieu (Artistic Director, Lyon Dance Biennale and European Creative Hub).

Source :
* Guided Tour of the Grand Hôtel-Dieu on September 14, 2018
* Attending the Parade For Peace through the Streets of Lyon, on September 16, 2018

Ruby BIRD
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Yasmina BEDDOU
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