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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Cloître Barracks is a former infantry barracks built in the 3rd quarter of the 17th century on Chambière Island in Metz. Originally designed to resist artillery, its rooms were vaulted, like the fortifications of Saint Quentin. The building was destroyed in 1935 to give way to the boarding school of Fabert High School, but its two doors Louis XIII, embedded in the wall, were preserved and classified as historical monuments on 30 March 1926. Today, the remaining buildings partially house Fabert High School.

During the reign of Louis XIV, Metz was of major strategic importance. The engineer Vauban visited the city in 1675 and stressed his key role: "The other squares of the kingdom cover the province, Metz covers the state". His plans, partially implemented in 1676, were later taken over by his pupil Louis de Cormontaigne between 1728 and 1749. The barracks served as barracks until the Revolution, then under German annexation (1871–1919), housing units of the 173rd German infantry regiment of the 16th Corps.

The site, originally located on Rue Saint-Marcel, reflects the military and urban evolution of Metz. After its partial destruction, only classified items remain, bearing witness to its past. The barracks also illustrate the architectural changes associated with the conflicts, particularly during the French and Prussian periods. His legacy today is limited to Louis XIII Gates and his integration into the schoolyard of Fabert.

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