Construction 1860-1862 (≈ 1861)
Built by Peugeot Frères for its employees.
20 juin 1986
Partial protection
Partial protection 20 juin 1986 (≈ 1986)
Registration for historical monuments.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Facades and roofs of the building; first span (starting from the road) of dwellings served by the wooden gallery, in total (ground floor, floor and top); plot bearing the workers' gardens (Box AB 45, 47): inscription by order of 20 June 1986
Key figures
Peugeot Frères - Sponsored industrial
Builder of the Bastille.
Origin and history
La Bastille is a workers' housing building built between 1860 and 1862 in Hérimoncourt, Doubs department, under the leadership of Peugeot Frères. Designed to house employees at the nearby Terre Blanche plant, this architectural complex reflects the social needs of the region's industrialisation. The building, rectangular and monobloc, is constructed of coated limestone bellows and houses 11 units spread over two levels.
Access to the ground floor accommodation is via individual stairs, while those on the floor are served by a wooden gallery accessible via an external staircase. This distribution system, typical of the workers' homes of the time, optimized space while responding to economic constraints. La Bastille, thus nicknamed because of its imposing structure, was partially protected as historical monuments on 20 June 1986, notably for its facades, roofs and the first span of dwellings served by the gallery.
The site, located at 83 rue du Commander-Rolland, is facing the main entrance to the former PSA plant (ex-Peugeot) in Herimoncourt. After its rehabilitation, the building continues to house housing, thus continuing its initial vocation. Its inscription in the historical heritage underscores its importance as testimony to the industrial and social history of Franche-Comté. The gardens for workers, mentioned in the protection order, also recall the living conditions associated with this type of housing.
The construction of the Bastille is part of a broader context of the development of workers' towns in France in the 19th century, where industrialists sought to establish a stable labour force near production sites. In Hérimoncourt, this Peugeot Frères initiative testifies to the development of metallurgy and mechanics in the Doubs sector, which will become a regional economic pillar. The building, owned by a private company, remains a symbol of this industrial heritage still visible today.
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