This former prison in the Paris region has been transformed... into a library!

Once upon a time, this was a place of bars, cells, and corridors that people walked through… Today, it’s filled with bookshelves, hours of reading, and cultural activities that bring it to life. Here is the remarkable story of the Coulommiers Municipal Library, in Seine-et-Marne.

The Coulommiers detention center was built in 1851, based on plans by Ernest Mangeon, the architect for the Seine-et-Marne department. Designed in the style of the major prisons of its time, it features a striking rectangular layout with individual cells for each inmate. Its architecture is notable for two lateral apses reminiscent of religious buildings—a symbolic feature aimed at guiding prisoners back onto the right path.

The building’s prison years lasted for many decades until 1958, when it finally stopped holding inmates for good. It was then repurposed as a rehabilitation center for young offenders before being officially closed down. Before its cultural revival, the former prison became a popular filming location, attracting numerous directors and artists drawn to its authentic atmosphere and the powerful symbolism of the site:

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• A Woman’s Story (1988), directed by Claude Chabrol and featuring actress Isabelle Huppert, includes several powerful scenes set in a dark, atmospheric depiction of Occupation-era France.

• The Mirador music video by Johnny Hallyday (1989) vividly portrays prison life, with realistic sets that emphasize the penitentiary theme.

• Many notable figures, such as Mireille Darc, Aldo Maccione, Alice Sapritch, and Jean-Paul Belmondo, have filmed or prepared scenes for various productions here.

In the 1990s, the town of Coulommiers acquired the building and began envisioning a new purpose for this historically significant site. The plan to transform the former prison into a municipal library took shape: after several years of renovation, the building reopened its doors in 2003 as the town’s library. The old cells were turned into shelving units for books, and a preserved cell serves as a reminder of the building’s past function. The project earned the Heritage Ribbon Award in 2004 for its exceptional restoration. Today, the library is listed in the Supplementary Inventory of Historic Monuments, safeguarding and showcasing its architectural heritage.