Toulon bombings 1944 (≈ 1944)
Winded glass, building saved directly
1961
Interior rehabilitation
Interior rehabilitation 1961 (≈ 1961)
Creation of a mezzanine on the 1st floor
8 février 2018
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 8 février 2018 (≈ 2018)
Total protection of the building and decorations
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The old Naval Circle in full, located 29 avenue Jean Moulin, appearing in the Cadastre section CO on Parcel No.194, as delimited in red on the plan annexed to the Order: inscription by order of 8 February 2018.
Key figures
Georges Leygues - Minister of Marine
Sponsor of the Mediterranean Naval Circle
Lucien Simon - Official Navy Painter
Author of canvases for the circle
Charles Fouqueray - Official Navy Painter
Contributed to interior decors
Origin and history
The old naval circle of Toulon, located at 26 rue Jean Moulin, was a building dedicated to receptions and restoration of the National Navy, integrating a common architectural block with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Var. Designed to embody the prestige of the Royal (French Navy) on the Mediterranean facade, it welcomed the officers and personalities of Toulon in Marseille. The building, in the Art Deco style, housed major works by official Marine painters such as Lucien Simon and Charles Fouqueray, reinforcing its cultural and military character.
The naval circle was commanded by Marine Minister Georges Leygues to centralize the fleet's social activities in the Mediterranean. Indirectly damaged during the 1944 bombings (the roof was blown), it was rebuilt in 1961 with the addition of a mezzanine to enlarge the restaurant. In 2017, the Ministry of Defence put it on sale, before it was registered as a historical monument on February 8, 2018, protecting its architectural and artistic heritage.
The protected elements include the entire building, located 29 avenue Jean Moulin (cadastral park CO 194), with its interior decorations and maritime canvases. Although its exact location has given rise to debate (some sources also cite Avenue de la République), its historical role as a place of military sociability and its Art Deco style make it a unique testimony of the inter-war period. Today, its future remains uncertain, between heritage preservation and real estate pressure.
