The Bagne of Toulon was a notorious prison in Toulon, France, made famous as the place of imprisonment of the fictional Jean Valjean, the hero of Victor Hugo's novel Les Misérables. It was opened in 1748 and closed in 1873.
A Bagnard, or prisoner in the Bagne of Toulon, early 19th century. (Source: Museum of Fort Balaguier)
The Bagne of Toulon in the mid-19th century (from Histoire des Baignes depuis leurs creations jusqu'a nos jours by Pierre Zaccone, Paris (1869)
The Chaine; prisoners, chained at the neck, being marched from Paris to Toulon (from Histoire des Baignes depuis leurs creations jusqu'a nos jours by Pierre Zaccone, Paris (1869)
The Bazaar which sold handicrafts by prisoners. (from Histoire des Baignes depuis leurs creations jusqu'a nos jours by Pierre Zaccone, Paris (1869)
Toulon is a city on the French Riviera and a large port on the Mediterranean coast, with a major naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, and the Provence province, Toulon is the prefecture of the Var department.
Top left: Toulon Opera House, top right: Mayol Stadium (Le Stade du Mayol), 2nd: panoramic view of downtown Toulon and its port, 3rd left: Place de la Liberté, 3rd right: the beaches of Mourillon, bottom left: the cable car to Mount Faron, bottom right: Fort Saint-Louis
Toulon Cathedral (11th to 18th centuries)
The Tour Royale (16th century)
Barbarossa's Ottoman fleet, of the Regency of Algiers, wintering in the harbour of Toulon in 1543, with the Tour Royale (bottom right).
