Cayenne's Prison, Penal colony in Cayenne, French Guiana.
Cayenne's Prison is a former penal colony located on the mainland and several offshore islands in French Guiana. The compound consists of stone cell blocks, watchtowers along fortified perimeters, and administrative buildings spread across multiple sites.
The French government established the colony in 1852 to deport convicted criminals to overseas territories. Operations continued for over a century before authorities closed the facility permanently in 1953.
The bagne influenced French popular culture through escape stories and memoirs that shaped public memory of the penal system. Residents still recall tales of individual prisoners whose names remain linked to specific cell blocks.
Access to the compound is limited, and reaching different sections often requires boat transfers or walking through overgrown areas. Heat and humidity make sturdy footwear and sun protection advisable.
Alfred Dreyfus spent five years on Devil's Island before his rehabilitation shook the French justice system. His individual case demonstrates how political convictions shaped the operation of the entire colony.
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