Prison circulaire d'Autun, Circular prison in Autun, France
The circular prison features a three-story cylindrical structure measuring thirteen meters in height and twenty-three meters in diameter, with fifty individual cells.
Architect André Berthier constructed this prison between 1855 and 1856 to address overcrowding issues at the previous facility near the courthouse.
The prison layout follows Jeremy Bentham's panopticon design principle, where a central observation point enables surveillance of all cells without inmates knowing.
The prison ceased operations in 1956 and remains closed to regular visitors, though plans are underway to transform it into a museum by 2027.
Each trapezoid-shaped cell received natural light and heating, advancing prison conditions compared to other nineteenth-century detention facilities.
Location: Autun
Architects: André Berthier
Address: place Saint-Louis
GPS coordinates: 46.94598,4.29962
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:45
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