Château de Joux, La Cluse-et-Mijoux, Franche-Comte, France
Located at the top of a rocky spur at a thousand meters above sea level, the Château de Joux commands the entrance to the Pontarlier cliff, a natural passageway to Switzerland.
This strategic position makes it one of the key elements of the defense of Eastern borders. Rich with a history ten centuries old, the castle becomes from 1690 and until 1815 a prison of State, which accomodates several famous prisoners.
In 1802, Toussaint Louverture (1743-1803), former slave became governor of the island of Santo Domingo (currently Haiti), is imprisoned there on order of Bonaparte , for having opposed to the restoration of slavery of the blacks. In prison, he was subjected to a severe regime, isolated, with no possibility of leaving his cell. Bricks obstructed even the single window, leaving only a small space for daylight. These precautions will prevent his escape. Sick, Toussaint Louverture died in his cell on April 7, 1803, five months after his arrival.
The cell of Toussaint Louverture is on the ground floor of the building vaulted dungeon. Measuring twenty feet long by twelve wide (ie 6,50 m by 3.90 m), it is covered with a semicircular arch and a fir floor.
The furniture consists of a bed, a pierced chair, a small table, two chairs and a chest of drawers. A stone fireplace allows heating. It welcomes many visitors, who came to pay homage to the one who was the symbol of the emancipation of peoples. A memorial is also erected on the east side of Fort de Joux.
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