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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The barracks of Artois, located in Versailles, originated in an architectural project carried out between 1773 and 1776 under the direction of architect Chalgrin. At the time, the chosen land, nicknamed the " camp of the lainants", was a peripheral area of the city, populated by precarious workers and marginals living in unhealthy housing. This poorly-fated area housed workers, masons and colporteurs, reflecting the social inequalities of Versailles before the Revolution. The construction was initially aimed at creating stables for the Count of Artois, brother of Louis XVI and future Charles X, thus marking his link with the monarchy.

After the French Revolution, the buildings were converted into military barracks, capable of hosting 333 riders, 530 infantrymen and 224 horses. In 1823 a royal ordinance temporarily established a cavalry school and a trumpet school, transferred to Saumur a year later. These changes illustrate the adaptation of the site to the changing needs of the state, from aristocratic use to military and educational functions. The facades, protected since 1927, today bear witness to this historical heritage, integrated into the remarkable site of Versailles.

Currently, the barracks are home to the Yvelines departmental military delegation and a national service centre, continuing its institutional vocation. Its inscription in historical monuments and its location in the protected area of Versailles underline its heritage importance. The neighbourhood, once stigmatized, is now associated with an architectural and military heritage, reflecting the urban and social changes of the city since the 18th century.

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