Musée des Moulages

Moving through the wing of the hospital building at 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux, you immediately sense the historical presence surrounding the Musée de l’Hôpital Saint‑Louis. Founded in 1801 under dermatologist Jean Louis Alibert’s leadership, the museum was pioneering in treating skin diseases and medical education innovations.

His unconventional methods made Saint‑Louis a leading dermatology center in Europe. From 1867, Dr Lailler and Jules Baretta built an impressive collection of wax models depicting dermatological conditions. This collection now comprises over 4,900 models, divided into four categories: general collection, Péan, Parrot and Fournier. In the late nineteenth century, an educational pavilion designed by Gustave‑Léon Vera was added, featuring consultation rooms, a library and a modeling workshop.

The museum opened during the First International Dermatology Congress. In 1886, the Henri Feulard Library was established, with literature supported by the French Dermatological Society, still used by researchers and practitioners today. The museum remains accessible to visitors interested in the history of dermatology and scientific education.