Museum
Exhibition – "Believe and heal, and deliver us from evil," at the Paul Eluard Museum of Art and History in Saint-Denis
The Paul Eluard Museum of Art and History in Saint-Denis will be hosting an exhibition from May 27 to November 15, 2026 entitled "Believe and heal, and deliver us from evil," officially recognized by the Ministry of Culture as an exhibition of national interest. The Pasteur Museum is loaning several items from its collections for the exhibition.
With examples from multiple cultures, the exhibition presents the phenomenon of healing, exploring its religious, magical, medical and scientific angles. It examines the links between different belief systems and approaches to treatment in contemporary society, and identifies a key historical turning point in the 18th century, when the tension between faith and superstition gradually shifted to the field of science. The exhibition draws on an outstanding collection of 285 items from the former Hôtel-Dieu hospital and the Saint-Denis apothecary, together with some contemporary works.
It showcases the history of "Hôtel-Dieu" establishments, where medical treatment was long combined with Christian rituals and the use of remedies from jardins des simples, gardens containing herbs grown specifically for their medicinal properties.
Eleven objects from the Pasteur Museum will be on display, including a case of surgical and religious instruments used during the plague outbreaks of the 18th and 19th centuries and a microscope manufactured by Nachet & Fils that belonged to Louis Pasteur (c. 1853).
The museum team is offering staff the opportunity to visit the exhibition on Friday June 12, from 12 to 1.30pm (spaces limited).
Registration required by June 3, 2026 by emailing musee@pasteur.fr. You will receive a confirmation message.
For more information about the cultural events that will be organized during the exhibition, see the museum website
Practical information:
Venue: Musée d'art et d'histoire Paul Eluard, 22bis rue Gabriel Péri, 93200 Saint-Denis
Contacts: +33 (0)1 83 72 24 57 (information and bookings) | musee@saintdenis.fr
Exhibition dates: from May 27 to November 15, 2026
Museum opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday: 10am-5.30pm; Saturday 11am-6.30pm; Sunday: 2-6.30pm
Late opening until 8pm on the last Thursday of every month
The exhibition will close 15 minutes before the times below
Closed on Mondays and public holidays