Prison of St-Laurent-du-Maroni, Penal colony site in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, French Guiana
The Prison of St-Laurent-du-Maroni comprises several buildings constructed from red clay bricks situated along the Maroni River, containing cells, administrative offices, and medical facilities. The layout reflects how a large penal operation was organized across distinct zones for separate functions.
The site was founded in 1858 under Napoleon III as a holding center where all French prisoners arrived before being distributed to other camps. Operations continued until 1944, when the French penal system underwent fundamental reorganization.
The former penal colony now serves as a museum where visitors encounter the stories of thousands of prisoners through preserved buildings and objects they left behind. You can see how daily life unfolded within these walls and understand the human experience of those confined here.
Visitors should wear weather-appropriate clothing as the riverside location brings humidity and intense sun exposure throughout the day. Guided tours help explain the different areas and how each section originally functioned.
The medical facility built in 1912 featured special isolation rooms with small observation windows set into thick wooden doors, allowing guards to monitor patients without entering the rooms. This design reveals how security measures persisted even when treating the sick.
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