Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

During the First World War, Burgundy, far from the front, was chosen to establish temporary structures, including a large American hospital. Opened in 1917, this camp covered 330 hectares and provided 20,000 permanent beds, extending to 40,000 with tents, as well as two recovery camps of 5,000 places each. Water supply, initially provided by a pumping station on the Allier and two semi-entered reservoirs, proved insufficient, pushing for the construction of a water tower in 1918.

The castle, built near the No.1 convalescence camp, remained unfinished and was never used. Its circular structure rests on eight column pillars forming arches, while a hollowed central column, with a staircase, supports a tank via concrete beams. This monument, which was fully classified in 2016, bears witness to the American logistical effort during the conflict, although its initial role could not be fulfilled.

The hospital, designed to accommodate thousands of wounded, illustrates the strategic importance of the rear regions during the war. The castle, although not functional, symbolizes the technical and organisational challenges encountered in supporting emergency medical infrastructure. Its utility architecture, combining concrete and stone, reflects the rapid construction methods of the time, adapted to temporary needs but marked by a desire for durability.

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