Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The former prison of Artenay, built between the 4th quarter of the 18th century and the 1st quarter of the 19th century, initially served as a transit prison for smuggled criminals on foot. Its architecture, typical of the prison buildings of the period, is characterized by a rectangular plan surmounted by a four-sided roof. The side and posterior facades, blind, contrast with the street façade, pierced by an arcade door and two half-circle windows protected by grids. Upstairs was the jailer's house, while the ground floor was home to the cells, only the one in the south, lined with oak and decorated with graffiti, now retains its original appearance.

Delayed after the arrival of the railway transport of prisoners, the prison was reassigned to a warehouse for firefighters and then to social service after 1950. Its inscription as a Historical Monument by order of 14 August 1985 bears witness to its heritage interest, particularly for its southern cell and its preserved architectural elements. The building, owned by Artenay, illustrates the evolution of prison and logistics practices between the 18th and 20th centuries.

Located at 12 rue de Glatigny, this former prison also reflects the urban and social changes in the Centre-Val de Loire region. Its present state, although partially modified inside, makes it possible to understand the conditions of detention and transit of prisoners before the industrial era. The accuracy of its location is estimated at 6/10, based on available data.

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