The ship was briefly reduced to reserve in 1898, but was reactivated later that year as part of the Mediterranean Squadron (Escadre de Méditerranée).

The Bouvines-class coast-defence ships were ordered in accordance with the Jeune École's belief in the primacy of coastal defences and commerce raiding.

[2] The Bouvines-class ships were powered by two inclined horizontal triple-expansion steam engines, each driving a 4.5-metre (15 ft) propeller.

Bouvines's engines used steam provided by 16[Note 1] d'Allest-Lagrafel water-tube boilers at a working pressure of 15 kg/cm2 (1,471 kPa; 213 psi) that exhausted through two funnels.

The engines produced a total of 8,865 indicated horsepower (6,611 kW) and gave a top speed of 16.05 knots (29.72 km/h; 18.47 mph) on trials.

The ships carried enough coal to give them a range of 3,900 nautical miles (7,200 km; 4,500 mi) at a speed of 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).

[3][4] The Bouvines-class ships carried their main battery of two Canon de 305 mm (12 in) Modèle 1887 guns in two single-gun turrets, one each fore and aft of the superstructure.

[2] Initially ten 37-millimetre (1.5 in) Hotchkiss revolving cannon were positioned on the superstructure, but this was reduced to three when the additional 47 mm guns were added.

A premature detonation of a 47 mm shell during gunnery tests on 23 July killed two men and wounded two others, including Rear Admiral Chateauminois, President of the Trials Commission.

For the next year and a half, she spent her time at sea training in the English Channel and Bay of Biscay, interrupted only by ferrying the President of France, Félix Faure, from Saint-Nazaire to Rochefort on 22 April 1897.

The ship made port visits in Lisbon, Portugal, and French North Africa between exercises before returning to Cherbourg on 4 September.

[8] The ship was reactivated on 13 April 1910 as the flagship for the commander of the Channel Flotillas (Commandeur supérieur des flotilles de la Manche).