Ancien Hospital des Galeriens (Old Hospital of the Galerians), Villefranche-sur-Mer

The Old Hospital of the Galerians in Villefranche-sur-Mer is a historic structure dating back to 1769. Originally built as a prison and hospital for around 200 galley slaves, the building adjoins the patrol path and features a large nave with two aisles. The stone floor still bears the traces of iron chains that once restrained the prisoners, and a monumental metal grille separates the old chapel from the rest of the structure. Above the entrance, a superb coat-of-arms lintel, dated 1769, stands as a reminder of its past.

The hospital was abandoned in 1850, when the galley slaves were transferred to Imperia, Italy, but it found new purpose in 1870 as a quarantine station during a cholera outbreak in nearby Nice. Later, it was repurposed for Russian coal storage before being transformed into a zoological research station in 1885. The Russian scientific community used the site for marine studies, reflecting Villefranche’s growing importance in oceanographic research.

In the 1930s, the facility was incorporated into the CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research) and continues to serve as an oceanographic observatory today. Despite its grim origins, the Old Hospital of the Galerians has evolved into a center for marine research, preserving both its architectural heritage and its role in scientific advancement.