Maison centrale de Poissy

Maison centrale de Poissy is a maximum security prison located on a large estate near the Notre-Dame church, featuring a cell building with multiple levels and dedicated work areas. The compound sits within the residential landscape of the town and houses individuals serving various sentence lengths.

The building began as an Ursuline convent in 1645 and was converted to serve as a detention facility starting in 1817. This transformation from religious to penal use reflects broader changes in French society and justice approaches over centuries.

The facility is woven into the fabric of local life as a place where people serve sentences and pursue opportunities to change their circumstances. Walking near the compound, visitors notice how it sits alongside the church and other neighborhood buildings.

The facility is located at 17 Rue de l'Abbaye in the town and easy to identify from the street. Visitors should be aware that this is an active institution, so access is restricted and advance arrangements are necessary.

During World War II, the facility sheltered members of the French Resistance, with hundreds imprisoned there between 1940 and 1943 under special conditions. This period marks a significant chapter in the building's past beyond its role as a standard prison.

Location: Poissy

Inception: 1645

Architects: Guy de Gisors

Official opening: 1817

Capacity: 230

Part of: Direction interrégionale des services pénitentiaires de Paris

GPS coordinates: 48.92794,2.03912

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:03