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The little-known story of the women's prison in Cadillac is being showcased at the Departmental Archives of Gironde

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The Editor

Between architectural splendor and prison rigor, the Departmental Archives of Gironde unveil a little-known chapter of local history through the exhibition "Effacées." It's a moving tribute to the thousands of women and young girls whose destinies were confined, from 1822 to 1951, within the walls of the famous ducal castle.

From December 10, 2025, to April 26, 2026, the exhibition « Erased. Women’s Incarceration at the Château de Cadillac (1822-1951) » will be hosted at 72 cours Balguerie-Stuttenberg in Bordeaux to highlight 130 years of women's memories that have long been silenced.Through nearly 200 unpublished documents and the contemporary creations of artist Agnès Geoffray, the exhibition traces the evolution of the site: from the first French prison exclusively reserved for women to the school for the preservation of underage girls.

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.expo-archives-girondeSandrine Koeune ©Département de la Gironde

A Journey to the Heart of Darkness

The story begins in 1822, when the majestic Renaissance castle, purchased by the State, welcomes its first inmates. Visitors discover the reality of a prison factory where discipline through work was the rule, followed by the era of "preservation schools" where minors, sometimes as young as 13, were involved.were locked up to be "corrected"L'exposition ne se contente pas de montrer des archives administratives ; elle fait vibrer ces voix éteintes grâce aux œuvres d’Agnès Geoffray (impressions sur soie, diaporamas) qui réinterprètent les corps contraints et les désirs d’évasion.gcontent-ng-c3678191684="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="5">.

.expo-archives-bordeauxSandrine Koeune ©Département de la Gironde

Explore history at your own pace

To fully immerse yourself in the past, the departmental archives offer several ways to discover it:

  • Free guided tours: For an in-depth experience, department agents accompany visitors. These one-hour sessions take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 3 PM, as well as on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:15 PM and 4:15 PM.Free Visits : Access to the exhibition is completely free and open to everyone, from Monday to Friday (9 AM - 5 PM) and on weekends (2 PM - 6 PM)
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  • For families : An inquiry booklet allows you to explore the exhibition by following the correspondence between two women who were once confined within these walls.s.

.expo-femmes-archives-girondeSandrine Koeune ©Département de la Gironde

A Thrilling Line-up

Beyond the walls, the event thrives with a vibrant cultural program. The audience will have the opportunity to attend a conference by Véronique Blanchard and David Niget centered around the "Mauvaises filles" project during a special weekend on March 7 and 8 for International Women’s Day. A meeting is also planned for Saturday, March 14 as part of the bicentennial of photography: "Photographing the prison universe: Studio Henri Manuel (1930s) and Jean-Christophe Garcia (2008)." A night event on the theme: "What archives tell us about women in prison?" will take place on Wednesday.March 25th at 6 PM. 

expo-prison-femmesSandrine Koeune ©Département de la Gironde

All the info right here

Address: 72-78 Cr Balguerie Stuttenberg, 33000 Bordeaux, France