Abandoned Hospital - The former Rochebelle Clinic
We received photos from a traveler and compiled them into a historical summary.
This abandoned clinic is a ruin. Nevertheless, it had been on my lists for several years: an exploration I kept postponing because I sensed it was of secondary interest, yet a mystery that needed to be solved—especially since, inevitably, the bulldozers will arrive one day. Without taking the plunge, much like the old MSA in Nîmes, it will soon be too late.
The clinic was inaugurated on July 5, 1958, as evidenced by a dusty brochure found on the floor. The facility originally held 476 beds: 334 for the hospital and 142 for the hospice. When the old city-center hospital was demolished, it made way for what was then one of the most modern establishments in the region.
In 1974, an internship dormitory for medical students was added to the site, followed by the maternity and psychiatry wards in '75 and '76. In 1996, a residence for elderly patients with Alzheimer’s was added; this part still exists and remains operational today.
In 2005, what had long been a private clinic was attached to the public hospital system. Then came a period of major transformations that foreshadowed its abandonment. Construction on a brand-new, state-of-the-art hospital began in 2007. It was completed in 2010, and by 2012, our clinic-hospital ceased operations. Abandonment had begun.
In 2018, the building was put up for auction. However, it failed to find a buyer because the rehabilitation costs were deemed too high given the fierce vandalism; people said it had to be demolished. New auctions in 2019 yielded the same result. Since then, the ground floor has been ravaged by fire.
When I started discussing the site on forums in November 2023, I was contacted by many people who informed me that the clinic has recently been purchased. It is set to be transformed into a 1,000-capacity performance venue with a multidisciplinary focus, including a bar and restaurant. The building will not be demolished but rehabilitated.
The immediate neighbor owns two American Bully XLs. When you step past the incredibly noisy metal fence—which wobbles and clatters—they start barking furiously! This neighbor contacted me; he is exhausted by the vandalism, and one can sincerely sympathize. Upon hearing about the upcoming renovations, he said: "It's going to take time. But just the fact that there will be work going on next door makes us truly happy—so much so that my wife cried. We didn't believe it would ever happen."
That is the brief history; I now invite you to tour the premises. Spanning five levels, it is quite large. Though heavily ravaged, it is still worth a short walk.
