Abandoned French military sites, marked by rusted infrastructure, broken windows, and overgrown courtyards, have remained unused for nearly two decades. These sites were closed as part of a 2008 military reform that eliminated 54,000 jobs and shut down 83 military bases across the country. The government promised 320 million euros in aid to affected regions by 2015, but many buildings have remained empty for over ten years. For example, the Dieuze barracks in Moselle have been vacant for two years, and the local mayor is still trying to reclaim the site for commercial use, facing delays due to legal disputes. The city loses 400,000 euros annually in tax revenue because the site remains inactive. Efforts to repurpose these sites have been hampered by decontamination challenges. Many locations contain pollutants such as hydrocarbons or remnants of pyrotechnic materials from past military use, which require extensive and costly cleanup. In Metz, a large military fort has been on the market for twenty years, with nearby towns hoping to turn it into a tourist attraction. However, the decontamination process is lengthy and expensive, slowing down any progress. In some cases, barracks have been transferred to local communities for a symbolic price, but simply owning the buildings does not guarantee their reuse. For example, four gendarmerie schools that closed in 2008 remain unused, continuing to incur maintenance costs despite being expected to be free of such expenses. The transition of the French military to a more professional force has left behind sites with unique challenges. For instance, the ETAMAT facility in Thouars faces both budgetary and technical hurdles in its conversion. In Dijon, 4,000 tons of soil contaminated with hydrocarbons had to be removed before any development could begin. When pollution involves pyrotechnic materials, such as old ammunition, delays can stretch up to three years before work can start. These abandoned sites generate ongoing costs, including security, maintenance, and tax losses for the affected communities. In Brittany, sixty-four military sites that are no longer in use are currently under negotiation for transfer. Seven of these are at risk of remaining unsold due to the high cost of dealing with pyrotechnic or hydrocarbon pollution. Sites with a market value below 13,000 euros are not even monitored centrally, making it difficult to assess the full scale of the issue. Despite these challenges, some successful conversions have taken place. The former naval workshops in Brest have been transformed into the Capucins district, and former barracks in Metz now house both housing and university facilities. These examples show that military sites can be revitalized with time, resources, and political will. However, these successes remain limited compared to the large number of abandoned sites. Many military installations closed between 2008 and 2015 remain unoccupied and unused, highlighting the difficulty of turning public policy promises into tangible results on the ground.