A unique and surprising museum to visit near Bordeaux: The National Health Insurance Museum

In Lormont, the Château des Lauriers houses a museum that is unique in France and truly original. If someone told you , "Let's go visit the National Health Insurance Museum," you might not be particularly enthusiastic at first glance, and yet! It's an absolutely fascinating place, with well-designed and interesting displays, and above all, it addresses a crucial and highly relevant topic. Far from the clichés, let's step inside this elegant château to learn more about a subject that concerns us all, one from which we French were the first to benefit and which many envy: effective social protection based on solidarity, citizenship, and equality.

A museum in a castle? But why?

This may seem surprising, but there is a good reason for the National Health Insurance Museum being located in the magnificent Château des Lauriers in Lormont. This estate, built in 1860 and comprising a château, a parkland with various century-old trees overlooking the Garonne River, has been owned by the Health Insurance system since 1948. At the end of the Second World War, the Social Security system as we know it today was established, with the ordinances of October 4 and 19, 1945.

At that time, and with the intention of expanding, the Social Security system needed premises and invested in " Social Welfare Castles," which became rest and convalescent homes for the sick (often suffering from tuberculosis at that time). The Château des Lauriers was acquired with this in mind, but its layout made it unsuitable for its intended purpose, so it was abandoned in favor of building another rest home. In 1989, it became a museum, with four exhibition rooms that trace the history of social protection from antiquity to the present day. Antiquity? Yes, and even more, because the key word of this exhibition, and of the values it makes so tangible when exploring all these collections of objects, is solidarity ! In 2004, the museum became a national museum and now has nine exhibition rooms.

To heal ourselves and to take care of each other

It has become so obvious to us that we forget the origins of social protection. Long before 1945 and the birth of Social Security, solidarity, along with other values like equality and citizenship, were already part of our DNA. Since the dawn of humanity, hasn't humankind understood the importance of implementing collective support for its survival and the well-being of its loved ones? We are all equal in the face of illness, and it is within this vision of solidarity that socially conscious employers (who gave money to their workers when they had their first child) and mutual aid societies laid the foundations for our fantastic healthcare system. Under the impetus of the National Council of the Resistance, the right to Social Security was enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ; this was a world first, and France was the first country to adopt this type of healthcare system. The best in the world, since at the time, in 30 years the average life expectancy of the French increased by 15 years!

A visit to an educational and modern museum

A visit to the National Health Insurance Museum allows everyone to become aware of current challenges through the lens of the past. It is a duty of remembrance and transmission, raising awareness of social protection issues, including among younger generations.

Step through the gates of the Château and follow the ambassadors : the Social Security receptionists, a role created in the 1960s by the Ministry to give Social Security a more human face. Because even then, yes, it already had a reputation for being rather austere, with endless paperwork to fill out… A complex system explained by the importance and scope of its missions ! Through archives, photographs, furniture, and equipment, we move from room to room with interest and amusement at a vocabulary we all know very well (but sometimes without really knowing what it means, let's be honest!): health insurance card, co-payment, health coverage, sick leave, contributions, risks, CPAM (Primary Health Insurance Fund), old age, illness, prevention…

The museum visit is… Free! For everyone, all the time. The museum team, led by its dynamic manager Emmanuelle Saujeon-Roque, has prepared a visitor's booklet for both adults and children (two different booklets are available at reception). During the season and for school groups, theatrical tours are offered, in collaboration with a local theater company (Compagnie du Sûr Saut). Beautiful costumes, in the vintage and antique setting of the furniture, in the heart of this magnificent castle—it's a real treat!

To reach the museum: take Tram Line A towards La Gardette and get off at the Lormont Town Hall stop. Then, continue on foot for 400 meters along the Carbon-Blanc road. Alternatively, take bus Line 32 and get off at the Maison de Convalescence stop. It is located 20 minutes from Bordeaux and is accessible to people with disabilities.

We wish you a pleasant visit to this original and interesting museum; you will enjoy bringing your family and telling your loved ones what you have learned!

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