Former Royal Prison

Let’s pause for a moment in front of this handsome white building, because appearances are deceiving: you’re walking alongside Auray’s former royal prison. Built just before the French Revolution and financed by Louis XVI, it earned the prestigious title of “royal prison” simply because the king of France paid for it. When it opened in 1788, it was considered one of the most modern prisons in Morbihan. Behind this rather elegant facade, nearly 90 prisoners could be held, mostly in shared cells. They slept on thick, roughly cut oak planks. Some carved their names into the wood or scratched drawings of boats, leaving behind valuable traces of their time here. Prisoners who were being punished were sent to two underground cells, where the cold, damp, and darkness made conditions especially harsh. Modern, perhaps… but certainly not comfortable! Among those who spent time here was Georges Cadoudal, the famous Chouan leader born in Auray. The former prison is only open to visitors on certain occasions, but its quaint and almost welcoming facade hides a much darker history than you might expect.