On August 22, 1953, the history of one of the world’s most infamous prisons officially came to an end. Devil’s Island, the French penal colony, had served for more than a century as a symbol of isolation, suffering and inhumane treatment.
The colony was located off the coast of French Guiana and was active from 1852 to 1953. Over the course of those decades, thousands of convicts were transported to this remote territory, where the tropical climate, disease, forced labor and harsh conditions made survival extremely difficult.
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During its darkest periods, the death rate among prisoners reportedly reached as high as 75%.
Devil’s Island is a rocky landmass located approximately seven miles off the coast of French Guiana. It is about 1.2 kilometers long, has a maximum width of 400 meters and rises to around 130 meters.
Powerful sea currents and the dangers of the ocean created a natural barrier, making escape from the island almost impossible.
However, the colony did not consist solely of Devil’s Island. The prison system extended across several areas of the Salvation Islands, as well as the mainland of French Guiana.
Île Royale, the largest island in the complex, was used for the general prison population. Saint-Joseph had a stricter isolation regime, while Devil’s Island became particularly well known for the internment of political prisoners.
During the reign of Napoleon III, in the mid-19th century, the Salvation Islands were transformed into a place of internment for French convicts. Within a short time, the colony took the form of a harsh forced-labor system.
Tropical diseases, clashes between prisoners and poor living conditions caused many deaths. Survivors’ accounts of their experiences in French Guiana prompted public reactions and demands for reform in France.
At certain times, parts of the complex also served as quarantine centers and as a colony for people suffering from leprosy.
An unusual effort was undertaken in the mid-19th century, when 15 courtesans were sent to Devil’s Island under the care of monks. The aim was for their presence to encourage the prisoners to start families.
But the initiative did not produce the expected result. No families were formed, while tensions among the convicts increased. Later, the island was also hit by a syphilis epidemic.
Among the best-known figures associated with this place was Alfred Dreyfus, the Jewish captain in the French army who was wrongfully convicted of treason.
On April 13, 1895, Dreyfus was sent to the island and remained there for approximately four years in isolation. He lived in a separate hut and wrote hundreds of letters during his internment.
His case became one of France’s greatest political and judicial scandals at the end of the 19th century. It exposed the extent of antisemitism and the deep weaknesses of French institutions.
Although escape was extremely difficult, some prisoners managed to break free from the penal system.
One of them was the anarchist Clément Duval, who escaped in 1901 and later settled in New York.
The most famous account, however, is associated with Henri Charrière, known by the nickname “Papillon,” or “Butterfly.” In his book, published in 1969, Charrière recounted the story of a spectacular escape from the French penal system.
The account gained worldwide fame after the film “Papillon,” in which the leading roles were played by Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman.
Over time, the accuracy of Charrière’s story was called into question. Historical documents show that he had not been imprisoned on Devil’s Island itself, but in a prison on the mainland. The book also contained episodes that belonged to other convicts.
In 1938, France stopped sending new prisoners to the penal colonies and began dismantling the system. The complex was permanently closed in 1953.
Fourteen years later, in 1965, the islands were handed over to the Guiana Space Centre. Their location was suitable because of their proximity to the flight path for rocket launches toward the Atlantic.
Today, the island once considered one of the world’s most terrible prisons has become a tourist attraction. The historic buildings have been restored, and tens of thousands of visitors arrive there every year.
Seventy-three years after its closure, Devil’s Island remains a powerful testament to the history of the French penal colonies, where historical facts and legends continue to intertwine.
