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Le Frioul-through plague and yellow fever, a saviour for Marseilles
With the arrival of exotic disease via the merchant ships in its harbour, Marseilles needed a modern quarantine station. The Caroline Hospital on the Frioul islands was built in 1828 - an architectural masterpiece built by a committed humanist.
After the Lisbon earthquake, the plague was the 18th century's second natural disaster. It had arrived in the holds of trading ships from Syria loaded with fine cloth, and hit Marseilles in 1720, killing half the population. 50,000 died in two years. It was an economic disaster for the city, which had previously been thriving.
The economic successes of the port and its worldwide trading activities then brought a new danger, an acute virus from the French colonies in Africa and the Caribbean, with which a roaring trade was being conducted. Yellow fever had reached Barcelona in 1820, killing 20,000 people. Marseilles, still reeling from the previous century's plague, recognised the danger for its people and their economy.
Just like many other port cities at the time, Marseilles decided to enhance its healthcare provision. The old Arenc health centre on the mainland, which had served as an isolation bay for new arrivals from countries were contagious diseases were rife, was no longer up to the task, with such violent epidemics around. Victims needed to be isolated on an island.
The Frioul archipelago was selected by the Port Health Authorities, Chamber of Commerce, City Council and local authority. "Suspect ships were sent directly into quarantine, and the diseased were treated in the new hospital, which meant that harbour traffic could continue to come and go,"explains Hélène Daret, of the association Friends of Michel-Robert Penchaud. The two islands, Pomègues and Ratonneau, were joined by a breakwater in 1822. Ships could now be held in the enlarged Pomègues harbour and the new Dieudonné harbour that was created by the breakwater (today's Frioul harbour).
Neo-classical architect Michel-Robert Penchaud (1772-1833) was commissioned with the health centre project on Ratonneau island. The Caroline Hospital was born, named after the Duchess of Berry. Construction work started in 1823 and was completed in 1828. The hospital had a floor area of 10,000 sq m (just over 100,000 sq ft) and could house 48 patients and 24 convalescents. Each resident was kept in a separate area. The winds in the area, which all yachtsmen know about, provided ventilation, giving a certain level of protection. The chapel in the centre was designed like a Greek temple. Window panes between the colonnades allowed patients to attend mass without leaving their wards.
Caroline Hospital was finally closed in 1941, following a typhus epidemic.
In 1978, a "Caroline Hospital" association was founded, which had the building classified as a listed monument in 1980. This association was succeeded by the Friends of Michel-Robert Penchaud in 2007, which focuses on remembrance of the architect's work. They are preparing a website to raise public awareness, and organise summer teams to work on the restoration of the buildings.
Chairman of the association, Bernard Franchi, explains. "We promote the remembrance of this architect, who created a masterpiece, not to mention the contribution he made to healthcare. He is one of Marseilles' greatest architects. The Caroline Hospital reflects his humanism. He had a classical culture, which has marked his work, ensuring people are at the centre. Why else would there be so much space for no more than fifty people?" The hospital is now owned by Marseilles City Council. Entry is prohibited for safety reasons. For now, you can peer through the fence, before setting off for a nice walk through the islands. You'll get a great view back over Marseilles.
