Louis Pasteur
The Pasteur Museum was set up in the apartment where Louis Pasteur and his wife Marie lived during the final seven years of his life.
Born in Jura, Eastern France, Pasteur (1822-1895) dedicated his career to combating infectious diseases, spurred by the devastating loss of three of his five children to typhoid.
From 1857 to 1888, he served as Director of Scientific Studies at the esteemed Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris.
Notable among his achievements was the discovery of pasteurization in 1866, a method crucial for halting bacterial contamination, named in his honor.
In 1878, Pasteur elucidated that fermentation resulted from the growth of microorganisms.
He also developed a vaccine for anthrax following investigations into chicken cholera. In 1870, he devised a remedy for the silkworm disease, which revitalized the French sericulture industry.
A pivotal moment occurred on July 6, 1885, when Pasteur administered the first successful rabies vaccine to Joseph Meister, a young boy from Jura who had been bitten by a rabid dog.
As a result, individuals from all corners of France and abroad flocked to his laboratory seeking vaccination.
Prompted by this demand, public funds were swiftly mobilized through the Academy of Sciences to establish a rabies vaccine center, laying the foundation for the Institut Pasteur.
Pasteur co-founded this institution alongside his close collaborator, the physician, bacteriologist, and immunologist Pierre-Emile Roux.
Roux had previously served as a research assistant in Pasteur’s laboratory at the École Normale Supérieure from 1878 to 1883.
Until his death in 1895, Pasteur served as the Director of the Institute, solidifying his legacy as one of the most brilliant French scientists of his era.
He held esteemed memberships in the French Academy, Academy of Medicine, and Academy of Sciences. Pasteur’s groundbreaking discoveries continue to be credited with saving countless lives.
Pasteur Institute
Established on June 4, 1887, and officially inaugurated on November 14, 1888, the Institut Pasteur has remained steadfastly dedicated to the study of infectious diseases since its inception.
Comprising state-of-the-art laboratories in bacteriology, biology, virology, immunology, and allergy research, the institute has been at the forefront of numerous groundbreaking discoveries. These breakthroughs have led to advancements in the control and treatment of diseases such as diphtheria, influenza, yellow fever, plague, poliomyelitis, tetanus, and tuberculosis.
Today, the institute serves as a primary producer of serum and vaccines crucial for combating rabies, yellow fever, and tuberculosis.
In 1983, the Institut Pasteur made international headlines when its researchers successfully isolated HIV, marking a significant milestone in the battle against AIDS.
Renowned as one of the world’s premier research institutions, the Institut Pasteur stands as a beacon of scientific excellence. Additionally, it serves as the flagship among the 25 Pasteur Institutes established worldwide, extending its impactful research and expertise across the globe.
Pasteur Museum
The Pasteur Museum occupies the entirety of a two-story private apartment, meticulously preserving its original furniture and décor.
Stepping inside, visitors are transported into Pasteur’s personal realm, encompassing his dining room, drawing room, bedrooms, and notably, his cherished study—a space intimately connected to his beloved institute located nearby.
While the laundry room has been repurposed into a scientific souvenir room, offering a glimpse into Pasteur’s research endeavors.
Here, an array of equipment utilized by Pasteur during his groundbreaking experiments is on display.
Throughout the apartment-museum, a wealth of memorabilia awaits discovery, including sketches crafted by Pasteur in his youth, handwritten letters and notes, as well as an assortment of everyday objects that once populated his life.
Pasteur Museum Crypt
Louis Pasteur passed away on September 28, 1895, and was honored with a state funeral at Notre-Dame Cathedral. Despite the government’s proposal to inter him in the Pantheon, his widow staunchly believed his rightful place was within the confines of his beloved Institute.
Initially laid to rest within the cathedral, plans for a more fitting resting place began to unfold. His son Jean-Baptiste took the initiative to transform the cellar, formerly utilized for medical equipment storage, into a vault.
Commissioning esteemed artists from the Art Nouveau era, such as architect Charles-Louis Girault, painter Luc-Olivier Merson, and mosaicist Auguste Guilbert-Martin, they drew inspiration from the Byzantine mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna, Italy, to craft a breathtaking crypt.
The dazzling mosaics adorning the ceiling and walls of the crypt vividly depict Pasteur’s groundbreaking discoveries, with imagery representing his research on rabies, anthrax, and more. Placed at the heart of the crypt lies the scientist’s tomb, a testament to his enduring legacy.
Marie Pasteur, Louis’s devoted wife, joined him in eternal rest fifteen years later. Honoring her wish, she was interred at the foot of the altar in a small chapel nestled at the rear of the crypt.
Her tombstone bears a simple epitaph, commemorating her unwavering devotion:
Socia Rei Humanae Atque Divinae – Compagne de l’Humain et du Divin’ (Companion of The Human and Divine)
On each side of the altar, visitors will find the death masks of Louis Pasteur and Pierre Emile Roux, serving as poignant reminders of their enduring legacies.
Designated as Historical Monuments, the crypt, museum, and library offer a captivating journey through the life and work of Pasteur, providing invaluable insight into his monumental contributions to science and medicine.
We wholeheartedly recommend a visit to this remarkable site when it reopens it doors to the public in 2027. The museum is indeed currently closed for extensive renovation.
Pasteur’s groundbreaking discoveries paved the way for modern medicine, making him one of the most influential scientists of his era. Enthusiasts of Art Nouveau will also be captivated by the breathtaking craftsmanship of the crypt, a testament to the collaborative effort of renowned artists.
Directions: 15th district – 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux
Metro: Pasteur or Volontaires on Lines 6 and 12
Coordinates Pasteur Museum: Lat 48.840443 – Long 2.311093
Discover Pasteur Museum and the crypt where the scientist is buried in the short video below…
