Building of the Lions

As you stroll across the Penfeld River, keep an eye out for the Building of the Lions on your right. It’s tucked away in a recess – you’ll recognize it by its military architecture, built in stone and featuring a row of nine rounded arches. It was named after the ten lion-headed gargoyles on its façade; there’s one between each of the upper windows. You can’t see them from here, as they’re quite far away, but they’re made of lead, they’re gilded, and they weigh around 150 kg each! The building was constructed between 1807 and 1809 to reinforce the Brest Arsenal. It has served several purposes over the years. First, it was a warehouse for ship repair materials, then a carpentry workshop, and finally, the Arsenal’s first workers’ bistro, affectionately known as “La gueule d’or” (The Golden Mouth). This was the also name given to the restaurant that later replaced the bistro. Today, the building is no longer in use, except as a bridge between the Recouvrance district and the Ateliers des Capucins, thanks to the ramps built at the top. Yet it remains a fine example of 19th-century military architecture and was listed as a Historical Monument in 2011. It is also one of the few buildings to have survived World War II.