Cachot de Cyparis, Prison cell in Saint-Pierre, Martinique.
Cachot de Cyparis is a stone prison cell in Saint-Pierre measuring about 10 by 13 feet (3 by 4 meters). It has thick walls, a single entrance, and a small barred window.
On May 8, 1902, the volcanic eruption of Mount Pelée destroyed Saint-Pierre, but prisoner Louis-Auguste Cyparis survived inside this cell. The thick walls and confined space provided protection from the extreme heat and force of the disaster.
The cell reflects how colonial-era buildings are preserved as places of memory in Martinique today. Walking past it, you notice how even small structures mark important chapters in local history.
The cell sits on Rue de la Prison in central Saint-Pierre and is open year-round with no entry fee. Since it is a small, outdoor monument, you can visit at your own pace whenever you pass through the area.
Cyparis was one of only three people who survived the eruption across the entire city, making this small cell an extraordinary witness to the disaster. His survival is often described as remarkable, since almost no other location offered protection.
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