Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: prison

Saint-Justin was founded in 1280 as a bastide, a fortified town, The town still has three octagonal towers and a walkway along the ramparts and the tower wall. And this "chambre d'arrêt".

Trani may have been founded by Greek settlers, but the known history starts late. After the fall of the Roman Empire, it was dominated by Lombards, Byzantines, Saracens and again Byzantines. With the conquest of southern Italy by the Normans and after 50 days of siege by Robert Guiscard´s troops, Trani became part of the Norman Empire in 1073. Already under the Byzantines, Trani had become an important port for trade with the Orient. The heyday was in the time of the crusades in the 12th and 13th centuries, when crusaders and merchants mainly went to the Holy Land from Bari and Trani. It became an episcopal see in place of Canosa, destroyed by the Saracens. Frederick II promoted the Teutonic Knights and the Jewish community and built a massive castle. Under his rule, the city reached its highest point of wealth and prosperity. Castello svevo (svevo = Swabian) was built from 1233 to 1247 during the reign of Emperor Frederick II. The castle was built on a rocky shore in the middle of the bay of Trani. A moat separated the castle from the mainland. On one of the towers, Frederick II had Pietro Tiepolo, the son of the Venetian doge Jacopo Tiepolo. He had been captured as mayor of Milan at the Battle of Cortenova in 1237. Manfred of Sicily, the son of Frederick II, married his second wife here. After the end of the Hohenstaufen rule, which began with Manfred's death in the Battle of Benevento, the victorious House of Anjou rebuilt the castle so that in 1268 the marriage of Charles I of Naples and Margaret of Burgundy could be celebrated here. When the castle came under the rule of the Spanish under Charles V in 1533, it was extensively rebuilt to adapt it to the new defense requirements. The southern façade facing the countryside was reinforced and bastions were built on the corner towers. From 1832 Castello Svevo was again rebuilt to transform it into a central provincial prison, which opened in 1844 and was in operation until 1974.

Already in the 7th century, it was the location of a fortified Slavonic settlement, at a ford in the Vistula river. Thorn was established in 1231 under the administration of the Teutonic Order. The Teutonic Order had been called earlier by the Polish Duke Conrad of Mazovia to Christianize the pagan Baltic Pruzzes. However, the Order became active only after Emperor Frederick II granted it the right to rule over the land to be conquered in 1226. The foundation stone of the city of Thorn was laid in 1231 and soon after immigrants from Westphalia populated the town. In the 14th century, Thorn joined the Hanseatic League. The Order's efforts to simultaneously expand its sovereignty and control trade led to warlike conflicts. The city was captured by Poland in 1410 during the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War however, after the First Peace of Thorn was signed in 1411, the city fell back to the Teutonic Order. In the 1420s, Polish King Władysław II Jagiełło built the Dybów Castle, located in present-day left-bank Toruń. In 1440, the gentry of Thorn co-founded the Prussian Confederation to further oppose the Knights' policies. The Confederation rose against the Monastic state of the Teutonic Knights in 1454 and its delegation submitted a petition to Polish King Casimir IV Jagiellon asking him to regain power over the region as the rightful ruler. These events led to the Thirteen Years' War. The citizens of the city conquered the Teutonic castle and dismantled the fortifications. In May 1454, a ceremony was held in Toruń, during which the nobility, knights, landowners, mayors, and local officials solemnly swore allegiance to the Polish King. During the war, Toruń financially supported the Polish Army. The Thirteen Years' War ended in 1466, with the Second Peace of Thorn, in which the Teutonic Order renounced any claims to the city and recognized it as part of Poland. During the Great Northern War (Deluge), the city was besieged by Swedish troops. In the second half of the 17th century, tensions between Catholics and Protestants grew. In the early 18th century about half of the population, especially the gentry and middle class, was German-speaking and Protestant, while the other half was Polish-speaking Roman Catholic. The old town of Torun is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. - The beginnings of the Remand Center in Toruń date back to 1853 when the Prussian authorities decided to build a new prison in the city. Its construction was completed in 1866. It was built near the already existing court building. During the Second Polish Republic, it served as a penal and investigative prison (a record number was recorded in 1935: 600 inmates), and during WW II it was a small prison. At that time, captured Allied agents as well as the civilian population and members of the resistance were tortured and interrogated. After the war, "Okrąglak" again served as a detention facility, where women were also imprisoned until 1957. From 1989–to 1993, a general renovation was carried out. Currently, the detention center in Toruń is intended for 151 men.

Trani may have been founded by Greek settlers, but the known history starts late. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it was dominated by Lombards, Byzantines, Saracens and again Byzantines. With the conquest of southern Italy by the Normans and after 50 days of siege by Robert Guiscard´s troops, Trani became part of the Norman Empire in 1073. Already under the Byzantines, Trani had become an important port for trade with the Orient. The heyday was in the time of the crusades in the 12th and 13th centuries, when crusaders and merchants mainly went to the Holy Land from Bari and Trani. It became an episcopal see in place of Canosa, destroyed by the Saracens. Frederick II built a massive castle. Under his rule, the city reached its highest point of wealth and prosperity. Under the rule of Frederick II, the construction workd for the castle began in 1233. It was built on a rocky bank located in the center of the Trani bay, in an area of ​​shallow water, which protected it from possible assaults from the sea. A moat, perhaps of natural origin, separated the castle from the mainland. Frederick II hanged Pietro Tiepolo, son of the Doge of Venice Jacopo Tiepolo in a tower of the castle. Pietro was taken prisoner in the battle of Cortenova in 1237 . Between 1385 and 1419 it was in the possession of the mercenary Alberico da Barbiano, to whom it had been assigned by the king of Naples Charles III . In 1533, under Charles V, the castle underwent significant transformations, to adapt it to the new defensive needs that arose following the invention of gunpowder . From 1844 to 1974 the castle was a provincial central prison. Meanwhile this is a museum - and under renovation.

The "Abbaye d'Auberive" has a long history. The Cistercian abbey was founded by Bernard of Clairvaux in 1136 (under the name "Alba Ripa"). This was the 24th "filiation" of the Clairvaux Abbey. The time of the Cistercian monks ended, when the former abbey became a "commende" during the reign if Francis I of France. Since then the abbot was chosen by the French King. The still existing buildings were erected after 1700. The French Revolution ended all monastic/feudal life here. The complex was sold as National Property. Upto 1807 the buildings were used as a spinning factory (owned by Denis Diderot´s son in law). It changed hands a couple of times - and from 1856 and upto 1924 (!) the buildings served as a prison, just like the former abbey in Clairvaux, that still is a prison. Meanwhile the buildings are privately owned, but open to the public.

Saumur early evening. The "Château de Saumur" built as a fortified stronghold in the 10th century against Norman raids. Overlooking the Loire river it got transformed in a "château" and changed hands several times. The castle was used as an army barracks in the 17th century. Under Napoleon I it was (just like Fontevraud Abbey) converted into a prison. Marquis de Sade was imprisoned here for a short time. In 1906 the City of Saumur acquired the castle and began a restoration program to house a museum. Here is the website: www.chateau-saumur.com/

Saumur late afternoon. The "Château de Saumur" built as a fortified stronghold in the 10th century against Norman raids. Overlooking the Loire river it got transformed in a "château" and changed hands several times. The castle was used as an army barracks in the 17th century. Under Napoleon I it was (just like Fontevraud Abbey) converted into a prison. Marquis de Sade was imprisoned here for a short time. In 1906 the City of Saumur acquired the castle and began a restoration program to house a museum. Here is the website: www.chateau-saumur.com/

Robert d'Arbrissel (1045 – 1116) started as an itinerant preacher, was exiled to Paris. Then was an archpriest fighting lay investiture and clerical concubinage. His reforming zeal aroused such enmity that he was compelled to leave the diocese. He became a hermit. His piety and eloquence attracted many followers, for whom in 1096 he founded the monastery of La Roé. Robert left the convent and, living in the utmost destitution, worked again as an itinerant preacher. His eloquence drew crowds and provoked the church hierarchy. So in 1100, he was requested to give up the nomadic life and to settle down with his followers. Robert founded the "double monastery" Fontevraud Abbey. He could bear the sedentary life only for a short while. He appointed Hersende de Champagne (Heloisa´s mum?) to lead the convent and hit the road again. In 1116 he died in the Priory of Orsan. From the very beginning the convent had a strong support from the aristocracy, above all from the House of Plantagenet, who had chosen this abbey as a burial place. Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the most powerful ladies of medieval times, joined the convent, when she retired from the political powergame in 1200. The convent was successful and existed upto the French Revolution. In 1804 Napoleon signed a decree, transforming the abbey (once model of the "ideal city") into a prison. Holding upto 2000 prisoners, the prison was known to be of the "toughest in France". Standing in the kitchen looking up (into the chimneys). All the whitish bricks seen here were surely blackened with soot, when the cooks were roasting pork and beef over the fire. Stews simmering over the fire..

Robert d'Arbrissel (1045 – 1116) started as an itinerant preacher, was exiled to Paris. Then was an archpriest fighting lay investiture and clerical concubinage. His reforming zeal aroused such enmity that he was compelled to leave the diocese. He became a hermit. His piety and eloquence attracted many followers, for whom in 1096 he founded the monastery of La Roé. Robert left the convent and, living in the utmost destitution, worked again as an itinerant preacher. His eloquence drew crowds and provoked the church hierarchy. So in 1100, he was requested to give up the nomadic life and to settle down with his followers. Robert founded the "double monastery" Fontevraud Abbey. He could bear the sedentary life only for a short while. He appointed Hersende de Champagne (Heloisa´s mum?) to lead the convent and hit the road again. In 1116 he died in the Priory of Orsan. From the very beginning the convent had a strong support from the aristocracy, above all from the House of Plantagenet, who had chosen this abbey as a burial place. Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the most powerful ladies of medieval times, joined the convent, when she retired from the political powergame in 1200. The convent was successful and existed upto the French Revolution. In 1804 Napoleon signed a decree, transforming the abbey (once model of the "ideal city") into a prison. Holding upto 2000 prisoners, the prison was known to be of the "toughest in France". This strange looking structure with the many small towers is - the medieval kitchen building. The towers are chimneys. Dozends of cooks must have worked inside, preparing meals for hundreds of nuns and fratres. A busy place in the 12th century.

Robert d'Arbrissel (1045 – 1116) started as an itinerant preacher, was exiled to Paris. Then was an archpriest fighting lay investiture and clerical concubinage. His reforming zeal aroused such enmity that he was compelled to leave the diocese. He became a hermit. His piety and eloquence attracted many followers, for whom in 1096 he founded the monastery of La Roé. Robert left the convent and, living in the utmost destitution, worked again as an itinerant preacher. His eloquence drew crowds and provoked the church hierarchy. So in 1100, he was requested to give up the nomadic life and to settle down with his followers. Robert founded the "double monastery" Fontevraud Abbey. He could bear the sedentary life only for a short while. He appointed Hersende de Champagne (Heloisa´s mum?) to lead the convent and hit the road again. In 1116 he died in the Priory of Orsan. From the very beginning the convent had a strong support from the aristocracy, above all from the House of Plantagenet, who had chosen this abbey as a burial place. Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the most powerful ladies of medieval times, joined the convent, when she retired from the political powergame in 1200. The convent was successful and existed upto the French Revolution. In 1804 Napoleon signed a decree, transforming the abbey (once model of the "ideal city") into a prison. Holding upto 2000 prisoners, the prison was known to be of the "toughest in France". After the last prisoner left Fontevraud in 1983, the abbey was rebuilt and renovated. Seen here is the former refectory.

Fontevraud Abbey, founded in 1101 by itinerant reforming preacher Robert d'Arbrissel followed his concept of the "ideal city". It was a "double monastery", that was always led by a woman. From the very beginning the convent had a strong support from the aristocracy, above all from the House of Plantagenet. The list of the abbesses is like a "who is who" of the medieval nobility. Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the most powerful ladies of medieval times, joined the convent, when she retired from the political power game in 1200. She died here in 1204. This church was the chosen burial place for the House of Plantagenet. The convent was successful and existed upto the French Revolution. In 1804 Napoleon signed a decree, transforming the abbey (once a model of the "ideal city") into a prison. Holding upto 2000 prisoners, the prison was known to be of the "toughest in France". The prisoners had to work here. Textiles were manufactured in large scale, looms stood probably everywhere. Mechanisation started early, a first steam engine worked here already in 1839. Many thousands of desperate men, women and children were imprisoned here. Prisoners lived (and died) here over more than 150 years. All walls of the abbey are covered with carved names and dates. Signs of life! Officially the abbey was a prison upto 1963, but the last prisoner left Fontevraud in 1983. By the way - the Abbey of Clairvaux had the same fate - and still is a prison.

Fontevraud Abbey, founded in 1101 by itinerant reforming preacher Robert d'Arbrissel followed his concept of the "ideal city". It was a "double monastery", that was always led by a woman. From the very beginning the convent had a strong support from the aristocracy, above all from the House of Plantagenet. The list of the abbesses is like a "who is who" of the medieval nobility. Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the most powerful ladies of medieval times, joined the convent, when she retired from the political power game in 1200. She died here in 1204. This church was the chosen burial place for the House of Plantagenet. The convent was successful and existed upto the French Revolution. In 1804 Napoleon signed a decree, transforming the abbey (once model of the "ideal city") into a prison. Holding upto 2000 prisoners, the prison was known to be of the "toughest in France". The prisoners had to work here. Textiles were manufactured in large scale, looms stood probably everywhere. Mechanisation started early, a first steam engine worked here already in 1839. Many thousands of desperate men, women and children were imprisoned here. Prisoners lived (and died) here over more than 150 years. All walls of the abbey are covered with carved names and dates. Signs of life! Officially the abbey was a prison upto 1963, but the last prisoner left Fontevraud in 1983. By the way - the Abbey of Clairvaux had the same fate - and still is a prison.

Fontevraud Abbey, founded in 1101 by itinerant reforming preacher Robert d'Arbrissel followed his concept of the "ideal city". It was a "double monastery", that was always led by a woman. From the very beginning the convent had a strong support from the aristocracy, above all from the House of Plantagenet. The list of the abbesses is like a "who is who" of the medieval nobility. Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the most powerful ladies of medieval times, joined the convent, when she retired from the political power game in 1200. She died here in 1204. This church was the chosen burial place for the House of Plantagenet. The convent was successful and existed upto the French Revolution. In 1804 Napoleon signed a decree, transforming the abbey (once model of the "ideal city") into a prison. Holding upto 2000 prisoners, the prison was known to be of the "toughest in France". The prisoners had to work here. Textiles were manufactured in large scale, looms stood probably everywhere. Mechanisation started early, a first steam engine worked here already in 1839. Many thousands of desperate men, women and children were imprisoned here. Prisoners lived (and died) here over more than 150 years. All walls of the abbey are covered with carved names and dates. Signs of life! Officially the abbey was a prison upto 1963, but the last prisoner left Fontevraud in 1983. By the way - the Abbey of Clairvaux had the same fate - and still is a prison.

Fontevraud Abbey, founded in 1101 by itinerant reforming preacher Robert d'Arbrissel followed his concept of the "ideal city". It was a "double monastery", that was always led by a woman. From the very beginning the convent had a strong support from the aristocracy, above all from the House of Plantagenet. The list of the abbesses is like a "who is who" of the medieval nobility. Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the most powerful ladies of medieval times, joined the convent, when she retired from the political power game in 1200. She died here in 1204. This church was the chosen burial place for the House of Plantagenet. The convent was successful and existed upto the French Revolution. In 1804 Napoleon signed a decree, transforming the abbey (once model of the "ideal city") into a prison. Holding upto 2000 prisoners, the prison was known to be of the "toughest in France". The prisoners had to work here. Textiles were manufactured in large scale, looms stood probably everywhere. Mechanisation started early, a first steam engine worked here already in 1839. Many thousands of desperate men, women and children were imprisoned here. Prisoners lived (and died) here over more than 150 years. All walls of the abbey are covered with carved names and dates. Signs of life! Officially the abbey was a prison upto 1963, but the last prisoner left Fontevraud in 1983. By the way - the Abbey of Clairvaux had the same fate - and still is a prison.

Fontevraud Abbey, founded in 1101 by itinerant reforming preacher Robert d'Arbrissel followed his concept of the "ideal city". It was a "double monastery", that was always led by a woman. From the very beginning the convent had a strong support from the aristocracy, above all from the House of Plantagenet. The list of the abbesses is like a "who is who" of the medieval nobility. Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the most powerful ladies of medieval times, joined the convent, when she retired from the political power game in 1200. She died here in 1204. This church was the chosen burial place for the House of Plantagenet. The convent was successful and existed upto the French Revolution. In 1804 Napoleon signed a decree, transforming the abbey (once model of the "ideal city") into a prison. Holding upto 2000 prisoners, the prison was known to be of the "toughest in France". The prisoners had to work here. Textiles were manufactured in large scale, looms stood probably everywhere. Mechanisation started early, a first steam engine worked here already in 1839. Many thousands of desperate men, women and children were imprisoned here. Prisoners lived (and died) here over more than 150 years. All walls of the abbey are covered with carved names and dates. Signs of life! Officially the abbey was a prison upto 1963, but the last prisoner left Fontevraud in 1983. By the way - the Abbey of Clairvaux had the same fate - and still is a prison.

Fontevraud Abbey, founded in 1101 by itinerant reforming preacher Robert d'Arbrissel followed his concept of the "ideal city". It was a "double monastery", that was always led by a woman. From the very beginning the convent had a strong support from the aristocracy, above all from the House of Plantagenet. The list of the abbesses is like a "who is who" of the medieval nobility. Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the most powerful ladies of medieval times, joined the convent, when she retired from the political power game in 1200. She died here in 1204. This church was the chosen burial place for the House of Plantagenet. The convent was successful and existed upto the French Revolution. In 1804 Napoleon signed a decree, transforming the abbey (once model of the "ideal city") into a prison. Holding upto 2000 prisoners, the prison was known to be of the "toughest in France". The prisoners had to work here. Textiles were manufactured in large scale, looms stood probably everywhere. Mechanisation started early, a first steam engine worked here already in 1839. Many thousands of desperate men, women and children were imprisoned here. Prisoners lived (and died) here over more than 150 years. All walls of the abbey are covered with carved names and dates. Signs of life! Officially the abbey was a prison upto 1963, but the last prisoner left Fontevraud in 1983. By the way - the Abbey of Clairvaux had the same fate - and still is a prison.

Robert d'Arbrissel (1045 – 1116) started as an itinerant preacher, was exiled to Paris. Then was an archpriest fighting lay investiture and clerical concubinage. His reforming zeal aroused such enmity that he was compelled to leave the diocese. He became a hermit. His piety and eloquence attracted many followers, for whom in 1096 he founded the monastery of La Roé. Robert left the convent and, living in the utmost destitution, worked again as an itinerant preacher. His eloquence drew crowds and provoked the church hierarchy. So in 1100, he was requested to give up the nomadic life and to settle down with his followers. Robert founded the "double monastery" Fontevraud Abbey. He himself could bear the sedentary life only for a short while. He appointed Hersende de Champagne (Heloisa´s mum?) to lead the convent and hit the road again. In 1116 he died in the Priory of Orsan. From the very beginning the convent had a strong support from the aristocracy, above all from the House of Plantagenet. Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the most powerful ladies of medieval times, joined the convent, when she retired from the political powergame in 1200. She died here in 1204 and in the nave of this church, once choosen as the burial place for the House of Plantagenet, is her tomb. The convent was successful and existed upto the French Revolution. In 1804 Napoleon signed a decree, transforming the abbey into a prison. The abbey was a prison upto 1963! Holding upto 2000 prisoners, the prison was known to be of the "toughest in France". The nave of the abbey church. To squeeze in more prisoners here, four floors were installed within this nave upto the renovation and rebuilding process. Thousands of prisoners have lived (and died) here over more than 150 years. All walls of the abbey are covered with carved with names and dates. Where the visitors gather are the tombs of the Plantagenets.

Robert d'Arbrissel (1045 – 1116) started his career as an itinerant preacher. After a conflict with the bishop of Rennes, he was exiled to Paris. The bishop recalled him back later and appointed Robert to be an archpriest for reforming the clergy, what meant fighting lay investiture, clerical concubinage etc. His reforming zeal aroused such enmity that after the bishop´s death, he was compelled to leave the diocese. He became a hermit. His piety and eloquence attracted many followers, for whom in 1096 he founded the monastery of La Roé. Robert left the convent and, living in the utmost destitution, worked again as an itinerant preacher. His eloquence and his ascetic appearance, drew crowds. He again came into conflict with a bishop. In 1100, during a council in Poitiers, he was requested to give up his nomadic life and to settle down with his followers. A piece of land was bestowed on him, where at 1001 Robert founded the "double monastery" Fontevraud Abbey. He invited people of every age and condition to join - "under the leadership of a woman". This may have attracted many noble and wealthy ladies. Robert himself could bear the sedentary life only for a short while. He appointed Hersende de Champagne (Heloisa´s mum?) to lead the convent and hit the road again. In 1116 he died in the Priory of Orsan. At that time Hersende had already commissioned the construction of the church. The monastery, Hersende had in mind, when she started the process, should accomodate at least 500 nuns and "fratres". From the very beginning the convent had a strong support from the aristocracy, above all from the House of Plantagenet. Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the most powerful ladies of medieval times, joined the convent, when she retired from the political powergame in 1200. She died here in 1204 and in the nave of this church, once choosen as the burial place for the House of Plantagenet, is her tomb. Some of the "fratres" could not bear to live "under the leadership of a woman" - and left again, but the convent was successful and existed upto the French Revolution. In 1804 Napoleon signed a decree, transforming the abbey into a prison. The abbey was a prison upto 1963! Holding upto 2000 prisoners, the prison was known to be of the "toughest in France". Here is the western facade of the former abbey church.