Doftana Prison/Penitenciarul Doftana: Romania February 2018

This abandoned prison was built in1895 and was connected to the local mines. Due to a peasant uprising at the turn of the 20th century the site was repurposed and became Penitenciarul Doftana.

In 1921 political prisoners were held here including Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej who was held here for his involvement in communist protests. Strangely he became the first Communist leader of Romania. Romania was hit by a strong earthquake in 1940 this caused sever damage to the prison and some 300 prisoners were injured and some were even killed including a number of significant communist leaders.

As of 1949 the prison closed and eventually reopened as a museum in 1960. I guess this closed around to a similar time to the end of communism in Romania.

Since the closure Doftana has been served harsh blows from mother nature. Another earthquake and heavy snowfall took out a number of roofs.

There has been investors looking at making a prison themed hotel but that was some time ago and as you can see nothing has come of it. Maybe one day.

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