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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Bergues military tank, built between 1724 and 1725, is a remarkable example of 17th century utility architecture. Its exterior marble trimmings contrast with brick masonries, coated in parts intended to hold water. This work, originally designed for water storage, was later covered with a roof housing a wheat warehouse, illustrating a functional adaptation typical of the time.

Ranked Historic Monument by order of 22 December 1930, the cistern suffered a fire in 1940 which destroyed its roof, never restored since. Owned by the municipality of Bergues, it bears witness to the hydraulic construction techniques of its time, while bearing the stigmas of the conflicts of the twentieth century. Its exact address, 6 Rue Saint-Victor, and its ranking make it a protected local heritage, although its current state questions its preservation.

The materials used – marble for trimmings and brick for the structure – reflect both an aesthetic concern and a response to the technical constraints associated with water retention. The transformation of its peak into a wheat warehouse reveals a versatility of military or public spaces in modern times, where infrastructure was often to serve several uses. Today, its access and vocation (visit, rental) remain unspecified in available sources.

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