Fresnes Prison ( French Centre pénitentiaire de Fresnes ) is the second largest prison in France , located in the town of Fresnes , Val-de-Marne , south of Paris . It comprises a large men's prison ( maison d'arrêt ) of about 1200 cells, a smaller one for women and a penitentiary hospital.
5-509: Fresnes is one of the three main prisons of the Paris area, Fleury-Mérogis (Europe's largest prison) and La Santé (located in Paris) being the other two. The prison was constructed between 1895 and 1898 according to a design devised by architect Henri Poussin . An example of the so-called "telephone-pole design," the facility was radically different from previous prisons. At Fresnes prison, for
10-651: Is a prison in France , located in the town of Fleury-Mérogis , in the southern suburbs of Paris . With more than 4,100 prisoners, it is the largest prison in Europe. It is operated by the Ministry of Justice . Fleury-Mérogis is notorious as a leading center of Islamist radicalization in European prisons . Built between 1964 and 1968, the 180 hectare complex of Fleury-Mérogis comprises four entities: The main prison
15-588: Is formed by a polygonal central building from which radiate five blocks, each one consisting of three wings with four levels of cells. Each block has a capacity of 900 prisoners. Fleury-Mérogis is one of the three main prisons of the Paris area, the Fresnes Prison (the second largest in France) and the La Santé Prison (located in the centre of Paris) being the other two. There is wire surrounding
20-636: The Gestapo peremptorily killed prisoners at Fresnes. Fresnes Prison was liberated on 24 August 1944 by the French 2nd Armoured Division under General Philippe Leclerc , after a day of heavy fighting with many casualties on both sides. Fresnes Prison has recently experienced many rebellions and arson incidents. 48°45′49″N 2°19′19″E / 48.76361°N 2.32194°E / 48.76361; 2.32194 Fleury-M%C3%A9rogis Prison Fleury-Mérogis Prison ( Maison d'arrêt de Fleury-Mérogis )
25-718: The first time, cell houses extended crosswise from a central corridor. The design was used extensively in North America for much of the next century. During World War II , Fresnes prison was used by the Germans to house captured British SOE agents and members of the French Resistance . Held in horrific conditions, many of these prisoners were tortured, and some died there. As soon as the Allied forces broke through at Normandy and fought their way to liberate Paris,
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