[en] The energy and angular distributions of neutrons produced by bombarding thick targets with protons from 0.8 GeV up to 1.6 GeV have been measured at the Saturne synchrotron facility using time-of-flight technique. Measurements using targets of various lengths (40, 65 and 105 cm), various diameters (10 and 20 cm (lead, iron), 15 cm (tungsten)) and several compositions (iron, lead, tungsten) are discussed. These experimental data are compared with theoretical simulations carried out using the TIERCE code. The neutron spectra calculated by using TIERCE systematically underestimate the measured distributions. A simple model has been developed to calculate energy distributions and multiplicities of the neutrons emitted in the interaction of a high-energy proton beam with a thick target. The predictions of this model are compared with experimental data. (author)