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Apothecary of the Hôtel-Dieu

Opening period

From 01/01 to 31/12 on Saturday.

Closed exceptionally on November 1st, November 11th and December 25th.

At 2:30 pm sharp (reservation required)

Duration of the visit : 1h15

Additional visit on Tuesday at 10:30 am in July and August.

Language(s) spoken: English, French

Pets allowed: Non

Groups

Access to the Hôtel-Dieu parking lot is strictly reserved for staff and visitors (gates with code). Visitors to the apothecary who come by car must park outside the Hôtel-Dieu (small parking lot next door (paying), paying parking along the Boulevard de Brou near the Hôtel-Dieu but free parking from the restaurant ""la Rôtisserie de le mer"".

Max. number of people: 30

Means of payment accepted

Check

Cash

Rates

Group rate available for 10 people or more.

Individuals :

- Adult : 7 € for the thematic visits

- Children (6-12 years old) : 3 € for children

Children and family visits " Fifrelin apothecary " in French :

- 1 adult + 1 child: 9 €

- + 1 child : 4 €

Groups :

- Adults (from 20 persons) : 6 €

- Children rates on request

Tickets on sale at the Bourg-en-Bresse Destinations Tourist Office (via Internet and at the ticket office, no reservation by phone).

Not accessible in a wheelchair

The apothecary of Bourg-en-Bresse is composed of three rooms: a laboratory which has remained intact, a back room and a dispensary, with magnificent Louis XV woodwork housing an impressive collection of earthenware and bottles.

It was the pharmacy of the old hospital, the Hôtel-Dieu, from the end of its construction (1782-1790) until 1963. Its laboratory is a remarkable room, as it is nowadays very rare to be able to visit one. It allows you to immerse yourself in the chemistry of the past centuries: copper stills, mortars, cast iron furnace (19th century), press, all kinds of pewter...

The back room reveals the first earthenware pots, canon pots or chevrettes, as well as a library containing old books, including one from the 17th century.

The oak woodwork of the dispensary gives the room a cozy character. Some parts are carved to receive exactly the corresponding ceramics, the famous "watch pots", three of which are inscribed with the famous Theriac. A journey into the pharmacopoeia of past centuries through more than a thousand containers! Distillates, powders, ointments, pills, syrups, oils, dried plants...