Considering the walls before us, have you ever pondered the weight of stories held within Les Baumettes Prison? This penitentiary center stands in Marseille’s 9th arrondissement. Les Baumettes takes its name from the surrounding district.
Construction of Les Baumettes Prison spanned from 1933 to 1939. It officially opened in 1936. Three inner-city jails closed as Les Baumettes opened. Antoine Sartorio designed sculptures for the prison. These artistic contributions added a cultural dimension to the facility.
Les Baumettes covers approximately 30,000 square meters. It contains 1,380 cells. Around 1,700 prisoners reside here. Most are men. About a quarter are not French. The site includes a unit for juvenile offenders. There is also a unit for female prisoners. A prison hospital addresses the healthcare needs of inmates.
A 10-year renovation project began in 2006. The project cost about €133 million. It improved hygiene, safety, and security standards. The first phase renovated main entrances and watchtowers. Visiting rooms and a new mess hall were also upgraded. Prisoner accommodation was renovated from 2009.
Three of France’s last executions occurred at Les Baumettes. Ali Benyanès was executed in 1973. Christian Ranucci was executed on July 28, 1976. Hamida Djandoubi was the last, on September 10, 1977.
In January 2015, controversy erupted. La Provence reported inmates posted pictures on Facebook. The photos showed illicit items like cash and mobile phones. Authorities shut down the page. Another similar page emerged. Prison wardens admitted they were understaffed. Politician Eric Ciotti called for a “Marshall Plan” for French prisons.
Notable inmates have passed through Les Baumettes’s gates. Anne Beaumanoir was imprisoned for supporting the FLN. Robert Bonnaud was jailed for supporting Algerian nationalists. Charles Debbasch was sentenced to two years for several charges. Hamida Djandoubi was executed here. Louisette Ighilahriz was captured and sent to several prisons. Georges Journois was evacuated to Belfort. Albert Millet served some of his sentence here. Jacques Trolley de Prévaux was briefly held at the prison. Christian Ranucci was executed at Les Baumettes. Charles Skepper and Arthur Steele were tortured here. Irene Wosikowski was released in 1941.
Les Baumettes Prison embodies France’s penal history. It reflects ongoing struggles with prison reform. Inmate management remains a challenge. The call for a “Marshall Plan” underscores the need for reforms. As Les Baumettes evolves, it remains a case study. It highlights the potential transformation of penal institutions. Such transformation could better serve society. It could also better serve those within its confines.