This gateway was originally the central entrance to a vast establishment built under Louis XIV as a seminary for the chaplains of the royal ships.
After the Jesuits were expelled from France in 1764, their seminary in Toulon was transformed into a naval hospital.
The imposing door of the Jesuit seminary has been moved twice
When the naval hospital was demolished in 1911, the beautiful oak door of the former Jesuit seminary was moved in front of the Corderie and placed against the arsenal's surrounding wall. By 1917, it served as the entrance to the Préfecture Maritime offices on the upper floor of the Corderie,
The gate was moved a second time in 1975, when the autoroute ouest was built.
Now leaning against the façade of the Corderie's east pavilion, two majestic statues overlook it.
The one on the left represents Religion and the one on the right represents Force, armed with a club. The work was supervised by Raymond Langueneux, master of the port's sculpture workshop. The sculptures were created by Pierre Tombarelli.
The imposing door of the Jesuit seminary has been moved twice
When the naval hospital was demolished in 1911, the beautiful oak door of the former Jesuit seminary was moved in front of the Corderie and placed against the arsenal's surrounding wall. By 1917, it served as the entrance to the Préfecture Maritime offices on the upper floor of the Corderie,
The gate was moved a second time in 1975, when the autoroute ouest was built.
Now leaning against the façade of the Corderie's east pavilion, two majestic statues overlook it.
The one on the left represents Religion and the one on the right represents Force, armed with a club. The work was supervised by Raymond Langueneux, master of the port's sculpture workshop. The sculptures were created by Pierre Tombarelli.
