France in the 19th century faced a problem of prison overcrowding due to political opponents and undesirables being imprisoned. To alleviate this issue, a new circular prison was built in Autun in 1855. While it was not a true panopticon, it was based on Jeremy Bentham's design. The prison had flaws, such as a lack of infirmary and the inability to categorize prisoners. The prison was eventually closed in 1956 and now serves as a part of the Rolin Museum in Autun, potentially being used for exhibitions.