AtaraxiaAt the gates of Toulouse, located in the commune of Vieille-Toulouse, there is a place frozen in time that leaves those in search of authentic locations speechless. You won’t find it unless you’re looking for it, as access to what was once a specialized medical center for long-term care, mainly for the elderly, is now completely hidden.
Originally a hospitalization unit for cancer screening, then later repurposed as a retirement home, Wysteria has been abandoned for quite some time now… but what secrets are hidden behind its walls full of history?
Between Lacroix Falgarde and Toulouse, along the Garonne River, you’ll find all sorts of foliage, but only the most seasoned explorers will find the old entrance to Wysteria. Initially, there were two ways to access it: a long staircase for pedestrian entry and a road for vehicle access. First blocked by the city with huge rocks, it is now impossible to reach this place by car. But nature, having reclaimed its rights, still offers a small opening in the greenery to reach this place on foot, a place overflowing with history.
Formerly the Marie Foundation’s medical center, nicknamed Wysteria, the medical-dietetic annex of the Claudius Regaud cancer center is unique and recognizable by its extraordinary architecture. Surprisingly, its construction, which began in 1950, wasn’t completed until around 1964. Unfortunately, its life would be almost shorter than the time it took to build.
Wysteria was known for its dedication to the well-being and care of its patients. A true complex where the dignity and respect of its patients were paramount, its green setting promoted relaxation and recovery.
Unfortunately, for various reasons, including internal restructuring, changes in the Marie Foundation’s priorities, and economic difficulties, the Wysteria center closed its doors around the 1970s, although some claim the building was abandoned in 1980. The patients were relocated to other facilities, and even today, the grim fate of the building raises some questions.
Today, the building is deteriorating more and more rapidly. First taken over by explorers and the homeless, it now serves as a location for paintball games. The unfortunate fate of this building is quite sad, as the rehabilitation of this center would have been possible just a few years ago. The verdant setting, a terrace with an unbeatable view of part of the pink city and the Garonne River, a tranquility conducive to rest and relaxation—many projects could have been undertaken in what was once a retirement home.
Now, the path has almost become a dump, with debris everywhere and car wrecks or various objects scattered around. The site, altered and degraded by paintball games, with walls covered in graffiti, makes it hard to imagine the former luxury of the place.
