From February 1939 to June 1944, it was used as an internment camp (concentration camp), first for Republican refugees (soldiers, their families, opponents of the Franco regime) fleeing Spain after Franco's victory in the Spanish Civil War, in particular some 12,000 refugees, including soldiers of Durruti Column and others of the International Brigades, under the legitimate French government and then, as of May-June 1940, under the Vichy government after German occupation during the Second World War. Starting in 1940, apart from the prisoners coming from the Spanish Civil War, the Vichy government used it to house prisoners considered suspect or dangerous to the government, including members of the resistance and opponents of the Hitler, Mussolini and Pétain regimes.
From February 1939 to June 1944, this location served as a holding facility (concentration camp), initially for Republican asylum seekers (soldiers, their families, critics of the Franco regime) fleeing Spain after Franco's triumph in the Spanish Civil War, primarily around 12,000 refugees, including soldiers from Durruti Column and others from the International Brigades, under the French government that was still legitimate and then, starting May-June 1940, under the Vichy government following German occupation during World War II. Subsequently, apart from those who had fled the Spanish Civil War, the Vichy government utilized it to confine individuals deemed suspicious or perilous to the government, including members of the resistance and opponents of Hitler, Mussolini, and Pétain.