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Le Puy-en-Velay, historic city of infusion plants
The first traces of local know-how related to the use of medicinal plants can be found at the Hôtel-Dieu. The hospital, founded by the cathedral chapter in the 11th century, is one of the oldest hospitals in the world.
In the 14th century, the writings report that a canon of the caregivers specialized in medicine and regularly used plants. The Hospital is supplied by botanical gardens (herbularius) called "gardens of the simple" which are located in the surroundings of Le Puy, in particular at the Domaine du Sauvage in Chanaleilles, which offers an abundant flora.