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Origin and history

The Lions building, located in the Brest arsenal on the west bank of the Penfeld River, was built between 1807 and 1809 under the direction of engineer Jean-Nicolas Trouille, following the plans of Jean Tarbé de Vauxclairs. This monument, also known as the Pontaniou Lift, performs several functions: it closes the Pontaniou Canal to secure the arsenal, serves as a bridge between the Capuchins and Pontaniou Plateaus, and houses shops for calfating equipment (rai, tar, resin). Its sober architecture, typical of the First Empire, is distinguished by ten golden lead lion heads adorning the gargoyles of its eastern facade, hence its name.

Originally, the building consists of four levels: a basement with storage tanks and collective latrines, a ground floor dedicated to vaulted shops, a floor for workshops and offices, and a terrace supporting Pontaniou Street. The materials used, such as Brest Gneiss and Aber-Ildut granite, reflect local resources. The building also provides access to the arsenal via Saint-Malo Street or Madeleine Enclosures, while strengthening the military fence of the site. In the 19th century, it temporarily housed a carpentry, then from 1932 to 1961, a working-class canteen nicknamed "The Golden Gull" with reference to gargoyles.

Ranked a historic monument in 2011, the Lions building escapes the destructions of World War II and was rehabilitated in 2000 for the Brest 2000 maritime festivities. A major restoration, co-financed by the Ministries of Culture and Defence, is undertaken between 2015 and 2022 to preserve its structure and seal. Although disused for some 30 years, it remains a symbol of the Brestian industrial and military heritage, testifying to the Napoleonic engineering and the port history of the city.

The building is part of a larger set: the Brest arsenal, founded in the 17th century under Colbert and developed until the 20th century. It played a key role in the modernization of the military port, notably with the construction of the basins of Pontaniou (1752-1757) and the workshops of the Capuchins (1840-1865). The lifting of Pontaniou, by closing the canals, facilitates the refits (ship repairs) and optimizes the logistics between the different plateaus of the arsenal. Today, although not visitable because of its military status, it embodies the transition between the Napoleonic era and port industrialization.

The cannon and lion-shaped gargoyles, as well as the underground tanks for flammable materials, illustrate the ingenuity of the techniques of the time. The building combines military utility (stocking, circulation) and sober aesthetics, characteristic of imperial buildings. Its ranking in 2011 underscores its heritage importance, while its recent restoration guarantees its sustainability. There remains a major visual landmark in the landscape of the arsenal, alongside other works such as the corderie or the Laninon basins.

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