Construction of the water tower 1955-1957 (≈ 1956)
Directed by Guillaume Gillet and René Sarger.
1958
Commissioning
Commissioning 1958 (≈ 1958)
Food for surrounding areas.
années 1970
Establishment of shops
Establishment of shops années 1970 (≈ 1970)
Post office and grocery store open.
1981
Opening of a gas station
Opening of a gas station 1981 (≈ 1981)
At the base of the monument.
10 août 2010
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 10 août 2010 (≈ 2010)
First official protection.
15 avril 2011
Classification of historical monuments
Classification of historical monuments 15 avril 2011 (≈ 2011)
Replaces 2010 registration.
26 novembre 2025
Post office relocation
Post office relocation 26 novembre 2025 (≈ 2025)
Transferred to Liberty Street.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The entire reservoir or water tower, with the floors and buildings that were to house offices and a covered market (cad. 103 (rue de la Guérinière), 104-105 (5, place de la Justice), 106-108 (place de la Justice), 109 (7, place de la Justice): by order of 15 April 2011
Key figures
Guillaume Gillet - Architect
Designed the plans of the water castle.
René Sarger - Engineer
Responsible for construction between 1955-1957.
Origin and history
The water castle of La Guérinière, located in the eponymous district of Caen, was built between 1955 and 1957 under the direction of architect Guillaume Gillet and engineer René Sarger. Launched in 1958, it was designed to store 3,000 m3 of water, feeding the neighborhoods of the Healing, Vaucelles and Grace of God. Its elliptical base was initially to host an administrative centre and a covered market, but these projects did not succeed.
Starting in the 1970s, businesses moved to its base, including a post office, a grocery store and then a gas station in 1981. The post office, initially on site, was moved in 2025 to 18 Liberté Street. The monument was labeled "Twentieth Century Heritage" and listed as a historical monument in 2011, replacing a first inscription dated 2010.
The architecture of the Château d'eau, signed Guillaume Gillet, is distinguished by its elliptical platform and its integration into the urban landscape. Today, its base houses a garage and local services, while maintaining its initial role of water supply. Its ranking reflects its heritage importance in the history of Reconstruction and modern architecture in Normandy.
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