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The birth of modern medicine: Paris and Montpellier: France

Contact an expert to book or discuss this tour.

Email us to book or discuss

Phone +44 (0)20 7593 2284

9 September 2024 - 7 days for £3,692

Discover the foundations of the modern science of medicine in two French cities: Paris, where the ‘Paris School’ of hygiene and hospital teaching flourished and Montpellier, home to the world’s oldest university medical faculty. From mummified écorché figures to bone-lined catacombs, the early history of medicine is sometimes gruesome but always fascinating.

During this tour, you will be introduced to key figures including Louis Pasteur who pioneered the first vaccines, Rene Laennec whose stethoscope is a symbol of medical professionals still today, and Marie Curie – the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and still the only person to win the prizes in both Physics and Chemistry.

The tour will cover the churches administering the first hospitals, through to medical developments during the French Revolution and the great wars, to Paris’s role as the leading European centre of 18th century medicine, France has a long and varied history of medical discovery.

In addition to the wealth of medical history covered by this tour you will enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of the architecture and gardens of these two beautiful cities. 

You will be accompanied thorughout your time in Paris by Medical and botanical science historian and author Helen Bynum, who will give evening lectures and walking seminars.

In partnership with Kirker Holidays.


DAY 1: ARRIVE IN TO PARIS AND ENJOY THE FIRST TALK FROM HELEN BYNUM

Welcome to Paris. You can either join the group journey from St Pancras, London by Eurostar to Paris or meet your fellow travellers at the four-star Mercure Sorbonne Hotel. There are no planned activities until the evening, so if you arrive early, Paris is an amazing city to explore.

In the evening, after meeting you tour leader and fellow guests, enjoy the first of your lectures from your tour expert, Helen Bynum. Afterwards, you will enjoy a dinner together at a local Parisian restaurant.

DAY 2: THE MUSÉE CURIE, THE PANTHEON AND THE MUSÉE D’HISTOIRE DE LA MÉDECINE

This morning you will meet your expert local guide for a walking tour on the Left Bank, starting at the Musée Curie, a fascinating museum devoted to the history of radiation therapy. For the next 3 days Helen will be accompanying you, giving both walking commentary and two further evening lectures.

You will continue to the Pantheon, the great mausoleum of the French great and good - including the lead-lined tomb of Marie Curie herself. After lunch you will visit the Musée d’Histoire de la Médecine, which houses an impressive collection of rare surgical instruments from the 18th century onwards including Rene Laennec’s first stethoscope. In the evening Helen will present a second enlightening talk for you.

DAY 3: THE MUSÉE DES MOULAGES IN THE HÔPITAL SAINT LOUIS AND THE MUSÉE DES ARTS ET MÉTIERS

This morning you will visit the Musée des Arts et Métiers in the Marais district, a former monastery which was converted into an academic institution during the revolution. It now houses a fascinating museum dedicated to science and technology, including exhibits on energy, communication, light and Foucault’s original Pendulum. You will also see the Musée des Moulages in the Hôpital Saint Louis which is generally not open to the public. Here you will see a specialist hospital built for dealing with epidemics and skin disease, which has a spectacular courtyard and bone-lined catacombs.

DAY 4: THE PASTEUR INSTITUTE AND MUSEUM AND THE MUSÉE FRAGONARD D'ALFORT

This morning you will visit the Pasteur Institute and Museum, named in honour of Louis Pasteur, inventor of the pasteurisation technique. You will have lunch nearby before travelling to the astonishing Musée Fragonard d'Alfort. Founded in 1766 by the anatomist Honoré Fragonard, this museum is now part of the Veterinary School of Paris (one of the world's oldest) and it has a unique collection, including a startling room of his original écorchés, mummified anatomical studies ranging from a dissection of a human arm used as a teaching tool, to the gruesomely theatrical Horseman of the Apocalypse. 

In the evening, Helen will give a third talk preparing you for your onward journey to Montpellier. Covering the importance of its botanical gardens, it's famous doctors, and the 18th-century practice of travelling there for health and recuperation.

DAY 5: TRAVEL TO MONTPELLIER AND VISIT THE MUSÉE FABRE

Board the TGV for your journey south to Montpellier, on the Mediterranean coast. The fast trains on this high-speed line take just three and a half hours at speeds of up to 300kmh to reach Montpellier, on the Mediterranean Coast. You will check in to the art nouveau four-star Grand Hotel du Midi just off the grand Place de la Comedie and the afternoon will be free to explore the city including the wonderful Musée Fabre, one of the best museums of French art in the country outside of Paris. 

DAY 6: THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTPELLIER AND THE JARDINS DES PLANTES

This morning you will visit the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Montpellier, the oldest continually-operating medical school in the world, and alma mater of François Rabelais and Nostradamus. Here you will see the wonderful library of 900 manuscript volumes, 300 incunabula, 100,000 volumes printed before 1800, and all the theses produced by the faculties of Montpellier and Paris since the 17th century. In the Conservatory of Anatomy display cases house jars, skulls and casts including a resin écorché model that stands in the centre of the room. The second floor of the conservatory houses the imposing collections of the Delmas-Orfila-Rouvière museum, consisting of écorchés and wax anatomical models from the last two centuries. 

You will continue to the Jardins des Plantes botanical gardens, one of the oldest in the world and originally designed to produce herbs for medicinal use. In the evening you will enjoy a final dinner together at a restaurant in Montpellier.

DAY 7: RETURN HOME VIA PARIS

Return to Paris by train for an onward journey to London by Eurostar. If you would prefer, our partner Kirker Travel can also arrange flights home from Montpellier or extend your holiday in the south of France.

Contact an expert to book or discuss this tour.

Email us to book or discuss

Phone +44 (0)20 7593 2284

Contact an expert to book or discuss this tour.

Email us to book or discuss

Phone +44 (0)20 7593 2284

Highlights

  • Discover the stunning cities of Paris and Montpellier.
  • Enjoy talks and walking seminars from Helen Bynum.
  • Visit several fascinating medical museums.
  • Explore Montpellier’s Jardins des Plantes botanical gardens and Musée Fabre.
  • Maximum group size - 22 people. 

Meet the expert

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Helen Bynum

Helen is a historian of science and medicine. She began her academic career lecturing in medical history at the University of Liverpool, followed by reading human sciences and the history of medicine (MSc & PhD) at University College London and the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine. She is the co-editor of number of publications including, Great Discoveries in Medicine and the award-winning Dictionary of Medical Biography and Botanical sketchbooks

Helen also has a particular interest in gardening and plants and their importance in human culture and society. Join Helen on our science of botanical gardening and horticulture Weekender in Surrey, England. Click here for more information. 

WHAT'S INCLUDED

  • Six nights accommodation on bed and breakfast basis.
  • Services of a dedicated tour leader throughout.
  • Talks and walking seminars throughout.
  • Three group dinners.
  • Arrival/departure group transfers.
  • High speed TGV return journey from Paris to Montpellier.
  • Tickets to all the stated museums and gardens.
  • 24-hour support.

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

  • Travel insurance
  • International rail or air journeys (these can be arranged as part of the tour package, please ask).
  • Private transfers.
  • Single supplement - £800.

HOW TO GET THERE

This tour begins and ends in Paris. Please speak to Kirker Holidays who can offer flight advice and book flights for those travelling from the UK. 

If you would prefer not to fly, they can look into Eurostar/TGV train journey options for you.

PACE AND PHYSICALITY

A lot of the itinerary requires walking between the city’s sites, and you may encounter cobbled streets and stairs in certain locations. As such, a moderate level of fitness is required with ability to walk a total of approximately 3 hours each day.

SOLO TRAVELLERS

All of our tours, cruises, expeditions and weekenders are perfect for solo travellers. If you want your own room, you will need to pay a solo supplement of £800 for this tour. 

Accommodation

Mercure Paris Sorbonne

A four-star boutique hotel near the left bank of the Seine, opposite the Sorbonne University, amongst the trees of the Quartier Latin and Saint-Germain des Prés. It's just 5 minutes walk from Notre Dame. A cosy contemporary hotel that makes an ideal base for exploring Paris.

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Grand Hotel du Midi, Montpellier

A beautiful art nouveau four-star hotel, on the Place de la Comédie, in the heart of the historic Montpellier centre. With just 44 richly decorated rooms and a chic lounge where you can enjoy breakfast d Hotel du Midi, Montpellieror an evening drink. There is a lovely air of calm in the building. 

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.