Casemates and an army bakery

When it was part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (1814-1830), the city was fortified for the last time. From this final, huge enterprise, only the casemates remain on the Place Nervienne, as well as the neighbouring army bakery; these mainly brick buildings were used for military purposes until May 1940. They are now used for a range of sporting and cultural activities. In 1998, the roof of the former military bakery was converted into a public garden, specifically designed for children. A Building Full of History This military building, made of brick and blue stone, is shaped like a pentagon and was part of the fourteen bastions that made up the fortified perimeter of Mons. Designed by engineer Van De Polder, it was built to withstand bombings, with vaults that are an impressive 94 centimeters thick. The Casemates feature twelve vaulted chambers, each measuring 8.80 meters in width, 5.50 meters in height, and ranging from 30 to 50 meters in length. The 168-meter-long facade is marked by 12 monumental arches, providing an impressive testament to the military architecture of the time. The total built area is approximately 8,500 m². Originally, this building was designed to house up to 2,000 soldiers in case of a siege, in line with the standards of the time. Each soldier was allocated 16 m³ of air, a space of 1 meter in width for their bed, and at least two meters between rows of beds to allow movement. However, the Casemates were never used for this purpose, as no siege of the city occurred after their construction. Over the years, the Casemates have been repurposed for various uses: as a hay store, a military depot, and to house materials for the Ministry of Public Works, the Museum of the Road, and the Excavation Service of the Walloon Region. Today, the Casemates are a lively place, combining historical heritage with modern activities, and continue to be an integral part of the city's dynamic.