Musée de l'Hospice Comtesse
About This Museum
Stepping into the Musée de l'Hospice Comtesse feels less like entering a museum and more like wandering into a forgotten chapter of Lille's history. Founded as a charitable hospital in the 13th century, its current form is a beautiful patchwork of Flemish architecture from the 15th through 18th centuries. You'll find yourself in quiet, wood-paneled rooms where original furnishings and religious art aren't just displayed; they seem to still breathe the air of their time. The atmosphere is remarkably intimate, almost hushed, as if the sisters who once tended to the poor have just stepped out for a moment.
Collection Highlights
Don't miss the stunning polychrome wooden altarpiece in the chapel or the vast, dreamlike 17th-century painting 'The Legend of St. Hubert' by Arnould de Vuez. The Salle des Malades (the Sick Ward) itself is an exhibit, with its soaring timber roof and rows of beds giving a tangible sense of the building's original purpose.
Visitor Information
It's tucked away on Rue de la Monnaie in Old Lille, a charming area perfect for a stroll before or after your visit. It’s a wonderfully compact museum, so you can soak it all in without it feeling overwhelming.
Architecture & Building
A quintessentially Flemish building with a warm red-brick facade, steeply pitched roofs, and an interior centered around a tranquil cloister and a majestic wooden-beamed sick ward.
Contact & Location
Address: 32, Rue de la Monnaie, Vieux-Lille, Lille, Nord, Hauts-de-France, France métropolitaine, 59043, France
Phone: +33 3 28 36 84 00
Website: Visit Website
