Our take
The other side of Le Puy: not the cathedral or the Rocher, but the building next door that you walk through without looking at it. Its pharmacy and its 18th-century woodwork are worth the ticket on their own.
Pilgrims' hospital founded around 1140, rebuilt in the 17th century, in the heart of the cathedral complex listed by UNESCO. Today a digital art centre.
At the foot of the cathedral and the Rocher Corneille, the Hôtel-Dieu du Puy-en-Velay is a former hospital that took in pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Rebuilt in 1687, this imposing building is part of the cathedral complex listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela. Renovated by the architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, it now houses Compostella, a digital art centre. On three levels, immersive scenographies: Leonardo da Vinci, the lights of the Impressionists, the chapel in lights. Alongside, two very real things: the Hôtel-Dieu's pharmacy and its mid-18th-century woodwork, one of the largest hospital dispensaries in France, and a contemporary work by Jean-Michel Othoniel, “Le cœur de l'Hôtel-Dieu”.
Why we love it
- A pilgrims' hospital founded around 1140, right up against the cathedral, on the Routes of Santiago de Compostela (UNESCO)
- The period pharmacy and its mid-18th-century woodwork
- Othoniel's work, “Le cœur de l'Hôtel-Dieu”
Top tip
Direct access from the cathedral (same esplanade). Allow 1 hour 30. Can be combined in the same day at a weekend: cathedral + Hôtel-Dieu + Aiguilhe + Rocher Corneille (5 hours in total). Out of season, the Hôtel-Dieu often opens only at weekends, so plan your combination for a Saturday or a Sunday.
Before you go
- Entry is €9.50, €8 at the student rate, €6 for under-15s
- Free for under-6s, but you still need to collect a ticket
- Open every day in July-August. The rest of the year, reduced opening: weekends and public holidays in spring, Wednesday to Sunday in September, weekends in October, plus school holidays. Check the calendar before making the trip.
- Combine the visit with the cathedral, access is direct from the same esplanade
Practical info
- Address
- 2 Rue Bec de Lièvre, 43000 Le Puy-en-Velay, France
43000 Le Puy-en-Velay - MondayClosed
- TuesdayClosed
- Wednesday13h30–16h30
- ThursdayClosed
- FridayClosed
- Saturday10h–17h30
- Today10h–17h30
Opening hours
What visitors say
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Around Hôtel-Dieu du Puy-en-Velay
25 spots in and around Le Puy-en-Velay, enough to build your day.
Where to eat close by
€€Restaurant Les Flâneurs
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€€Comme à la Maison
4.7Le Puy-en-Velay · a 5-minute walk away
Mezia
4.8Le Puy-en-Velay · a 5-minute walk away
Where to stay nearby
Hikes nearby
Waymarked routes within 15 km, GPX track included.
Other activity
CyclingHikes around Hôtel-Dieu du Puy-en-Velay
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