In the heart of the Toulon penal colony
- Jade Body
- Nov 24
- 1 min read
From 1748 to 1873, Toulon housed the largest penal colony in France. More than 4,000 convicts could be imprisoned here, within the walls of the Arsenal. They participated in all the work necessary to keep the naval base running.
Imagine the grinding of metal, the sound of chains on wet stone…
Here the convicts worked tirelessly: cutting stone, repairing ships, braiding ropes, making sails, erecting frameworks…A world of labor.
Upon arrival, they were stripped of everything. Shorn, dressed in a simple red wool vest and a white shirt, they received a cap of a different color depending on their sentence. The weight of their chain, nearly seven kilos, almost never left them.
The penal colony operated for over 130 years.
until its transfer to Cayenne (French Guiana) and New Caledonia. It was visited by Victor Hugo and George Sand, both of whom were deeply affected by the living conditions of the convicts who worked there. Victor Hugo was particularly inspired by the life story of a famous prisoner from the Toulon penal colony !
Discover the story of convicts in the penal colony:
Were they really wearing a chain and ball on their feet? Who were they? How did they live in the heart of the largest penal colony in France? What were the living conditions like for life prisoners and repeat offenders?
Follow in their footsteps with a guided tour of Toulon. And if you're a foodie, dive into a unique food tour where the food of the penal colony era blends with historical anecdotes and tastings of local specialties . An immersive experience combining history, heritage… and culinary discovery.
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