Some of the most harrowing scenes in television and film are set in prisons, which means that common tourist attractions that fans of film and television want to see are the prisons in which these scenes are filmed. There are many around the world that visitors will be able to see, and some of them even allow visitors to step inside the cell to gain an understanding of what the character would have been feeling like in the scenes. These are some of the most famous prisons that you can visit around the world that have featured in television shows or film.
Alcatraz
There are very few prisons that come close to this iconic landmark in San Francisco. It is a must-see for all visitors, but fans of Escape From Alcatraz will be particularly interested in paying a visit. The prison is located off the shore of San Francisco and has housed notorious criminals such as Al Capone, Micky Cohen, and Robert Franklin Stroud. Escape From Alcatraz centres around Frank Morris and his attempt to escape from The Rock. The film stars Clint Eastwood and Patrick McGoohan.
Birmingham’s Steelhouse Lane
While the Birmingham Steelhouse Lane police station was never officially used as a set for a television show, it was used as a huge inspiration for the prison scenes that were filmed in Peaky Blinders. According to WeLoveBrum.co.uk, Peaky Blinders is one of many hit shows that were filmed in the city. The cult show has attracted a worldwide audience, and fans will remember that scenes at the beginning of season four showed members of the Brummie gang facing the noose. Steelhouse Lane police station is now a museum that visitors can attend to look into the history that went on here.
There will also be extra intrigue for fans of the BBC drama, as real-life members of the Peaky Blinders were kept in prison here. The prison is over 125 years old and is the perfect tourist attraction for those visiting Birmingham that are dedicated Peaky Blinders fans.
Chateau d’lf
There are very few more imposing prisons in the world than the Chateau d’lf. The prison is located off the shore of Marseille and housed many notorious criminals throughout its history. It is very similar to Alcatraz in the way that it is located at sea to ensure that criminals kept inside the prison are unable to escape. The strong tide made it impossible for inmates to escape and was also the inspiration for The Count of Monte Cristo.
Today, fans of the novel, which was adapted into a film, can visit the fortress. It was opened to the public in 1890 and is listed by the French Ministry of Culture as a monument historique. The most recent film adaption of the novel was in 2002, with Kevin Reynolds directing. However, another remake of the film is scheduled to take place in the future with David S. Goyer directing.