This is the house in Arbois (83, Rue de Courcelles) where Louis Pasteur lived his childhood. Due to the scientist's affection for this building, later in his life he decided to buy it back and to renovate it. Then, when he was not in Paris, he spent much of his leisure and also working time in this house that he called his "Castle on the Cuisance"1.
Substantially preserved as it was at Pasteur's death, the house shows many aspects of his private life as well as some features of his research work, especially those related with fermentation and winemaking2.
The following painting represents the sheperd Jean-Baptiste Jupille struggling with a rabied dog: he was among the first to receive antirabid vaccine by Pasteur. It was painted by Emile Isembart (1846-1931) who gave the painting to Pasteur as a gift3.
On this wall, we can see two drawings made by a young Pasteur: on the left, a study of the bust of a young girl (charcoal, 1843) and, on the right, Atala's funeral, after Girodet (charcoal, 1836)4.
Pasteur's bedroom which was separated by the rest of the house "by a double door that only he could unlock"5.
"The large laboratory, for which Louis Pasteur himself drew tha plans, was illuminated with daylight from both the street and the garden, and offered every convenience"6.
- Photos by Luca Borghi ti.supmacinu|ihgrob.l#| (August 2020)
- Locate the item on this Google Map
Bibliography
- Sylvie Morel, Dominique Simon, La maison de Louis Pasteur, Arbois (Jura), English version, EPCC Terre de Louis Pasteur, Arbois undated, pp. 18