The La Roquebrou hospice or Hôtel-Dieu ("hostel of God": a church-run hospital for the poor), catering for both the sick and for needy elderly people, dates from the 14th century. Staffed by nuns, it was funded from annuities and donations from the local population, both of money and for example wheat, rye, eggs and poultry.
In 1695, Louis XIV decided to divert monies received by all such institutions throughout France to the Order of Saint Lazarus, a Catholic military order running mainstream hospitals and caring for soldiers. Any establishment hoping to avoid having its funding seized had to send proofs to Paris of how long-established and useful it was. After protracted discussions (lasting 10 years) it was finally agreed that the hospice could carry on serving the poor, and in 1730 it was even enlarged.
