The City of Beaune lies at the heart of Burgundy’s vineyards and was the home of the Dukes of Burgundy till 14th Century. It has always produced some of the best wines and it has been able to amass vast wealth because of this.

During the Middle Ages Chancellor of the Duke of Burgundy, Nicolas Rolin, was able to channel some of this wealth into the building of a hospital for the poor in which local people on low or zero incomes would be looked after when they became ill and treated for their illnesses until they either recovered or passed away. With the help of his wife, Guigone de Salins, who contributed money from the local Saltworks, they were able to construct a hospital based on similar institutions in the north which they had seen while in Flanders.

No expense was spared on the building and only the finest materials were used, e.g. the high quality slate that was used to roof the Great Hall of the Poor where the poorest were treated. Burgundian craftsmen were used throughout and also built the other rooms and halls complete with their sumptuous polychromatic tiled rooves and splendid furnishings.