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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Duguesclin Barracks, located in Niort, is a military building built in the mid-18th century, representative of the Vauban-type barracks. Its construction began in 1734 under the supervision of Mr. Lanchon, then director of Ponts et Chaussées. The building, composed of a single three-storey body, initially housed stables on the ground floor, vaulted to support the upper levels. Few original interior elements remain today, bearing witness to the transformations experienced over the centuries.

In 1940, during World War II, the places were temporarily occupied by the students of the Autun military school, marking a period of adaptation to improvised uses. After the Liberation, between about 1945 and 1955, the barracks were home to families suffering from disaster, offering a temporary refuge in a context of national reconstruction. These successive occupations reflect the social and military upheavals of the time.

Ranked a Historic Monument, the Duguesclin Barracks enjoys double protection: partial registration in 1994 for the entire 18th building (excluding classified parts), then classification of facades and roofs in 2002. Owned by Niort, it now embodies an architectural and memorial heritage linked to French military history, while questioning its future uses (visits, rentals, accommodation).

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