I've created this post out of order, because I couldn't add the photographs I wanted to on the original Isle De Salut write up. The prison buildings and cells were so interesting, I felt I had to show them on the blog
There are three Islands that make up the Salvation Islands, or Isle De Salut. Royal Island, St Joseph's Island and Devil's Island. Due to the infamous penal French penal colony and books such as Papillon, they are now collectively known as Devil's Island
Most of the prison cells were built on the biggest of the three, Royal Island. Devils Island and St Joseph's Island were saved for those prisoners the wardens felt deserved special treatment. On those islands, They could have been kept in isolation for years, or cages, sent out to work naked during the day, and only being given their clothes when they returned at night.
This is the entrance to a cell block. In the film Papillon, it was shown as the isolation block. The cells within only had a small hole in the ceiling for light.
The door to a cell. I'm not sure about the grill above, as the light from the grill does not get into the cell.
Inside a cell. I used the camera flash to show how big the inside was. You can see the bed frame on the left. The prisoners would have only had the hole in the ceiling for light.
The row of isolation cells inside the block.
The last photograph below is the prison courtyard also shown in the film. I've marked with a black arrow the point where the guillotine would have stood. The supporting wooden base beams are still there.
As well as the church, the hospital, children's cemetary and all the other buildings associated with the penal colony, there is a museum full of information regarding the prisoners, their crimes and how their lives went. This whole place draws people in with morbid curiosity and horror. Combining this with the beauty of the rest of the island makes Isle De Salut a highlight of this cruise, and well worth a visit.
Isle De Salut 2012
Isle De Salut 2013 - 1st Post
Isle De Salut 2014
There are three Islands that make up the Salvation Islands, or Isle De Salut. Royal Island, St Joseph's Island and Devil's Island. Due to the infamous penal French penal colony and books such as Papillon, they are now collectively known as Devil's Island
Most of the prison cells were built on the biggest of the three, Royal Island. Devils Island and St Joseph's Island were saved for those prisoners the wardens felt deserved special treatment. On those islands, They could have been kept in isolation for years, or cages, sent out to work naked during the day, and only being given their clothes when they returned at night.
This is the entrance to a cell block. In the film Papillon, it was shown as the isolation block. The cells within only had a small hole in the ceiling for light.
The door to a cell. I'm not sure about the grill above, as the light from the grill does not get into the cell.
Inside a cell. I used the camera flash to show how big the inside was. You can see the bed frame on the left. The prisoners would have only had the hole in the ceiling for light.
The row of isolation cells inside the block.
The last photograph below is the prison courtyard also shown in the film. I've marked with a black arrow the point where the guillotine would have stood. The supporting wooden base beams are still there.
As well as the church, the hospital, children's cemetary and all the other buildings associated with the penal colony, there is a museum full of information regarding the prisoners, their crimes and how their lives went. This whole place draws people in with morbid curiosity and horror. Combining this with the beauty of the rest of the island makes Isle De Salut a highlight of this cruise, and well worth a visit.
Isle De Salut 2012
Isle De Salut 2013 - 1st Post
Isle De Salut 2014
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