Prison circulaire d'Autun, Circular prison in Autun, France
Prison circulaire d'Autun is a circular detention facility with three stories, standing about 13 meters (43 feet) tall and measuring 23 meters (75 feet) across. The structure houses roughly 50 individual cells arranged around a central observation point.
Architect André Berthier built this prison between 1855 and 1856 to replace an older facility that had become severely overcrowded near the courthouse. The project reflected new thinking about how to design detention facilities more efficiently and humanely.
The prison uses a panopticon layout where guards stationed in the center could watch all cells at once, a design that was considered modern and innovative at the time. Visitors today can see how this arrangement shaped daily life and order within the facility.
The facility closed to inmates in 1956 and is not currently open for regular visits, but renovation efforts are underway to create a museum experience by 2027. Visitors should check ahead before traveling, as the site remains under development.
Each trapezoidal cell received natural light and heating, which was unusual for prisons of that era. This attention to living conditions showed a more human approach to detention that was quite progressive for the time.
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