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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The barracks of Roc de Granville, located in the Channel in Normandy, are the remains of a military urban project designed in the 18th century. In 1750, engineer Decaux imagined a new town on the Roc, but only the Bazeilles barracks, built in 1758, remained today. This building embodies the initial, though limited, ambition to modernize Granville's defences under the Old Regime.

Between 1780 and 1783, a tank for the garrison was erected on the site. Its foundations then served as a base for a second barracks, completed in 1788 and named the Genoa-Champagne barracks. These buildings illustrate the evolution of military logistics needs on the eve of the French Revolution, while integrating into the urban landscape of Granvillias.

The two barracks, Bazeilles and Genoa-Champagne, have been partially protected since 1987 under the Historical Monuments. The first is inscribed in full, while the second is inscribed for its facades, roofs and two interior staircases. Their preservation demonstrates the heritage importance of this site, both military and urban, to the region.

Property shared between the commune of Granville and the state, these barracks also recall local and national power dynamics. Their location on the Roc, a strategic point overlooking the bay, underscores their historic defensive role, now complemented by a recognized heritage value.

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