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Origin and history

The pavilions at the entrance to rue Guillaume-le-Conquerant are two symmetrical buildings erected in Caen in the 18th century, as part of an urban development project led by Intendant François-Jean Orceau de Fontette. The latter wanted to create a new western access to the city, replacing the old ditches of the ramparts with a modern street (now Guillaume-le-Conquerant street). The pavilions, originally designed to be connected to a monumental gate, were constructed separately: the North Pavilion ("Saint-Sauveur Pavilion" or "the City Pavilion") in 1757 (interrupted until 1773), and the South Pavilion ("the Abbey Pavilion") in 1758. The door project was abandoned for financial reasons.

In 1773, the North Pavilion was transformed into a storehouse and weapons room for the provincial regiment and coastguards. Four years later, in 1777, the Ministry of War set up a barracks to accommodate 200 men, in order to maintain a military presence close to the population while isolating to prevent riots. The troops left in the early 19th century. The facades and roofs of the two pavilions were listed in the Historic Monuments on 13 April 1928, recognizing their heritage value.

Architecturally, these pavilions illustrate the urbanisation of the Enlightenment in Caen, marked by projects to modernize and embellish cities. Their position at the entrance to Guillaume-le-Conquerant Street, today Fontette Square, bears witness to their symbolic role as a marker of public space. Although their initial function has evolved, their preservation allows us to understand the transformations of the city between the Ancient Regime and the contemporary era.

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