Musée national de l'Assurance maladie
Free museum housed in the Les Lauriers château in Lormont, tracing the history of social protection up to the Sécurité sociale.
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About the museum
Les Lauriers château, in Lormont north of Bordeaux, was built in 1860 for Moïse Henri Gradis, historian and judge at the commercial court. It was surrounded by a park laid out by the Bordeaux landscape designer Louis Bernard Fisher, with a view over the Garonne. The Gradis family lived there from 1860 to 1943.
The Caisse primaire centrale de la Sécurité sociale bought the estate in 1948 and from 1951 used it as a convalescent home for women. The château soon proved ill-suited to care, and a new building was brought into service on the estate in 1978.
Since 1989, the château has housed the Musée national de l’Assurance maladie. Its management and promotion have been entrusted since October 2004 to the Comité aquitain d’histoire de la Sécurité sociale. The website belongs to the CPAM of the Gironde.
Nine rooms present images, banners, medals, photographs and office equipment. They tell the story of how the social protection system was built, from antiquity to the present day. The collection grows through donations from organisations, working and retired employees and private individuals.
Highlights
- Les Lauriers château from 1860 on the banks of the Garonne
- Nine rooms on the history of social protection, from antiquity to today
- Banners, medals, photographs and office equipment
- QR-code trail with audio and video
- Puzzle game “Le coffre aux ordonnances” on the creation of the Sécurité sociale
Permanent exhibition
- Parcours permanent sur l'histoire de la protection sociale – Nine rooms present the history of social protection, from antiquity to the creation of the Sécurité sociale, with documents, banners and objects.
- Founded
- 1989
- Operated by
- Comité aquitain d'histoire de la Sécurité sociale (gestion) ; CPAM de la Gironde (propriétaire du site internet)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
The visit and the museum’s services are free of charge.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum states that it provides access for people with disabilities, without further details.
Kids & families
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
A free guide for children aged 10 to 13, in the form of games, is available. The puzzle game “Le coffre aux ordonnances” is aimed at groups from age 10.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Mairie de Lormont · 400 m
Tram line A, direction La Gardette, Mairie de Lormont stop, then about 400 m on foot along the route de Carbon-Blanc. Bus line 32, Maison de convalescence stop.
By car
The museum mentions a parking area for coaches.
The museum is about 20 minutes from Bordeaux city centre and 30 minutes from Saint-Jean station.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 2 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Self-guided visit with welcome booklet (about 1 hour) or QR-code trail (about 1 hour 30 minutes; smartphone and internet access required). Guided visit of about 2 hours for groups of 8 to 30 people, booking required. Teachers’ area and the puzzle game “Le coffre aux ordonnances” (about 1 hour, groups of 3 to 5 people, from age 10, by reservation). |
