Ancienne maison centrale, Riom, Historic prison and former monastery in Riom, France
The Ancienne maison centrale is a former monastery that later served as a prison in this town. The complex contains multiple buildings with thick stone walls, vaulted passages, and a preserved cloister courtyard from its religious origins.
The monastery was founded in 1280 as a Franciscan community outside the town walls. After destruction in 1358, it was rebuilt within the city and converted into a prison in 1821.
The building shows how religious spaces were transformed into secular institutions over time. Its architecture reveals this shift through the different structural layers added across several centuries.
The site can be viewed from the outside and showcases impressive architecture spanning multiple periods. It is easily accessible on foot and located centrally in the town.
In August 1944, resistance fighters freed 114 prisoners from the building, including 30 inmates sentenced to death. The operation succeeded without any bloodshed and remains a notable act of local resistance.
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