History
This abandoned Sanatorium goes by many names, Le Sanatorium d’Aincourt, aka Fleurs de Ruine aka Sanatorium du Vexin and lies crumbling in a forest of pine trees next to a new development which rendered the old sanatoriums redundant. Built by architects Edward Crevel and John Paul Decaux, between 1931 and 1933 , It was one of the largest Sanatoriums built in France, in the 20th Century. The site was also apparently used as a concentration camp during the second World War between 1940 and 1942. Currently the site is registered under the historical monuments of France which provides it with some protection. Three Sanatoriums were built in total, each designed to accommodate 150 patients and located only 400 meters away from each other in an architectural design intended to reduce the spread of infection.
During the 1920’s cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were increasing at an alarming rate with approximately 10,000 people dying each year from the outbreak. The General Council decided they were going to build a ” Maison de la Cure” or “House of Cure” just outside the village of Aincourt. Work started in 1931 and completed in July 1933.
During the second world war, in all, about 1,500 prisoners, men and women were held Aincourt. Hundreds were deported to the concentration camps ‘of Auschwitz , Buchenwald and Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg , which few returned. The internment camp Aincourt closed its doors on 15 September 1942 to be replaced by a training centre militia of Mobile Groups Reserve (GMR).
In 1946 , the sanatorium reopened. In 1955 , a new operating theatre was opened in honour of Dr. Pierre Le Foyer, specialist operations ribcage. But with the discovery of antibiotics and the decline of tuberculosis forced the government to reconsider the destination of the sanatorium that benefited progressive adjustments intended to bring it into line with modern sanitary and now in a multidisciplinary perspective.
In 1972 , the sanatorium became a medical centre and former Children Pavilion (Pavilion Cedars) is undergoing renovation until 1975 to become a rehabilitation centre.
The two larger Sanatoriums began to wind down operations in 1987 with the closure of one of the ground floor wards which was traditionally used to treat tuberculosis. The two Pavilions completely closed in 1988 and 2001 respectively. These two now empty buildings, Dr. Vian and Sibur-Bonnefoy, which were left derelict were subject to heavy looting and vandalism with only the shell remaining.
Our Visit
Visited with Andy K of Behind Closed Doors and Darbian, this place was a nice relaxed explore on a warm sunny day. We pretty much had the place to ourselves except of a girl we saw darting around the place. Not really my preferred sort of venue I did actually enjoy this visit.
Enjoyed this report? Be sure to check out the report from this trip by Behind Closed Doors here: Le Sanatorium d’Aincourt, aka Fleurs de Ruine
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