At the Domaine des Gueules Cassées, a new reconstruction space for the wounded
Already numbering 5 in France, ATHOS homes aim to offer psychologically injured military personnel, especially those suffering from...
On February 24, Patricia Mirallès, Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Armed Forces, responsible for memory and veterans, presided over the ceremony marking the completion of structural work, in the presence of Lucien Flamant, president of the Gueules Cassées.
A symbol of peace and life, an olive tree was planted on this occasion. Designed for the well-being and reconstruction of military personnel, the ATHOS home of the Gueules Cassées offers the wounded and their families a vast 1,900 m2 space located on the edge of a wooded area, including varied living and activity areas and adapted facilities.
With a sustainable design, the new home uses photovoltaic energy for its power supply and offers a parking lot with charging stations for electric vehicles. This major project, carried out by the UBFT in partnership with the institution de gestion sociale des armées (IGESA) and VINCI Construction, is part of a broader program supported by the ministère des Armées.
A SPACE OF RESILIENCE Faithful to its mission of supporting soldiers, gendarmes, police officers, firefighters, and customs officers physically or psychologically injured in the line of duty, the Union des Blessés de la Face et de la Tête (UBFT), better known as the « Gueules Cassées », continues its more than century-old commitment by offering a new reconstruction space for the wounded.
With nearly 1,900 m2 dedicated to the rehabilitation of those who gave everything for France, this space of resilience will open its doors in the spring of 2026. Following a traumatizing event, post-traumatic stress is often long-lasting and requires customized treatment.
Around 3,000 soldiers are believed to suffer from this syndrome contracted in theaters of operations during OPEX. After following a medical care pathway, the wounded may need a period of psychosocial rehabilitation.
It is about gradually reclaiming a relational, emotional, and family life, regaining self-confidence, managing daily life, and considering a phase of professional reintegration. In a fraternal atmosphere, and thanks to the presence of health and social work professionals, the wounded once again become active participants in their recovery journey.
This specific approach promotes autonomous decision-making by the wounded to help them regain their capacity to act. BENEVOLENCE “These homes are spaces of serenity and benevolence, designed for military personnel while remaining outside the military framework.
They offer a place where listening and understanding are at the heart of the support. It is a collective space dedicated to personal reconstruction.
It opens up perspectives and allows one to start conjugating the future with hope once again. Our ambition is to make this home a unique place, full of humanity and hope. I thank the Union des Blessés de la Face et de la Tête for its material and financial support, which allows the Domaine des Gueules Cassées to host this home so precious to our wounded,” emphasized Patricia Mirallès.
“It is with a mixture of joy and pride that the UBFT welcomes an ATHOS home to the Domaine des Gueules Cassées.
This ambitious project is part of the desire to strengthen an essential system, offering the wounded a rehabilitation space adapted to the specific needs linked to post-traumatic stress. The mission of the Gueules Cassées continues and expands on this estate which, throughout the year, hosts the wounded and their families for restful and fraternal stays, and which also includes a 113-bed EHPAD, labeled « Bleuet de France » and open with priority to our veterans.
This complementarity is at the heart of the daily action of the Gueules Cassées and its mission. “Sourire quand même” is our hope-bearing motto,” concluded Lucien Flamant, president of the Union des Blessés de la Face et de la Tête.
Photos Philippe OLIVIER.