Musée d'Histoire de la médecine

About the museum

The museum traces its origins to architect Jacques Gondoin’s design for the Collège de chirurgie, which included a room for instruments. The idea of a true museum only took shape at the beginning of the 20th century. It gained real momentum after 1951, thanks to Professor Mouquin, holder of the chair of the history of medicine, supported by Dean Binet.

Opened in the mid-1950s, the museum was at first reserved for professors and students of the faculty of medicine. It has been open to the general public since 1994, after renovation work. It occupies the third floor of the Université Paris Cité headquarters, rue de l’École-de-Médecine.

The collections, among the oldest in Europe, were assembled from the 18th century onward by Dean Lafaye. They include surgical instruments from the 16th to the late 19th century, as well as objects related to obstetrics and gynecology, anesthesia and dentistry.

Highlights

• Surgical instruments from the 16th to the late 19th century
• Félix’s scalpel, used in Louis XIV’s operation in 1686
• Antommarchi’s surgical kit, used during the autopsy of Napoleon I
• Jean Civiale’s lithotrite, the first instrument for crushing bladder stones without open surgery
• A few rare kits belonging to doctors and surgeons

Permanent exhibition

• Collections permanentes d'instruments médicaux et chirurgicaux – Instruments of operative surgery from the 16th to the late 19th century, with objects linked to Louis XIV and Napoleon I.

Founded

1921

Operated by

Université Paris Cité

Admission & discounts

Also free for holders of the AGCCPF, ICOM or Sentinelle cards, for licensed guides and for RSA recipients. Payment by bank card or cash; no online ticketing.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Free admission for children up to age 12.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on the third floor of the Université Paris Cité headquarters.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.