The former Parisian prison was located between the current group of buildings bearing No.

The penal structure held many noted prisoners during the French Revolution, with Madame Roland, Grace Dalrymple Elliott and Marie-Louise O'Murphy being among the known prisoners.

After the revolution, the Marquis de Sade was imprisoned here, as was the young mathematician Évariste Galois.

During the July Monarchy, the "April insurgees" were also detained there, and some managed to escape through a tunnel.

The painter Gustave Courbet was also imprisoned here for his activities in the Paris Commune.