Mettray Penal Colony

Mettray Penal Colony was a facility for young offenders with residential pavilions arranged around a central courtyard that included a chapel. The buildings were designed to allow inmates to live and work in separate groups.

The colony was established in 1839 as a response to juvenile delinquency and the belief that youth could be reformed through structured education and work. Its design incorporated American penitentiary models adapted by architect Guillaume-Abel Blouet.

The site represented a specific approach to youth reform that emphasized community living and work skills as tools for behavioral change. The model attracted attention from educators across Europe who studied its methods.

The site is located in a rural setting and is best explored on foot, allowing time to view the various pavilions and central courtyard. Visitors should note that some buildings are more accessible from the outside than for interior viewing.

The site contained a separate section called Maison Paternelle that was specifically reserved for sons of wealthy families needing behavioral reform. This area provided more comfortable accommodations and was physically separated from the main compound.

Location: Mettray

Inception: 1839

Founders: Louis Hermann de Bretignières de Courteilles, Frédéric-Auguste Demetz

Architects: Guillaume-Abel Blouet

GPS coordinates: 47.44940,0.65880

Latest update: December 18, 2025 11:40