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Possibly the nation's most legendary prison, La Santé – in which ex-president of France Nicolas Sarkozy has started a five year prison sentence for illegal conspiracy to obtain election financing from Libya – is the last remaining prison within the city of Paris.

Located in the southern Montparnasse district of the capital, it was inaugurated in the year 1867 and was the scene of no fewer than 40 death penalties, the most recent in 1972. Partially shut down for refurbishment in 2014, the prison reopened five years later and accommodates in excess of 1,100 detainees.

Renowned former detainees include the poet Guillaume Apollinaire, the unauthorized trader Jérôme Kerviel, the public servant and Nazi collaborator Maurice Papon, the entrepreneur and politician Bernard Tapie, the 70s terrorist Carlos the Jackal, and talent scout Jean-Luc Brunel.

Protected Wing for Prominent Inmates

High-profile or vulnerable prisoners are usually held in the jail’s QB4 ward for “vulnerable people” – the so-called “premium block” – in solitary cells, rather than the standard three-inmate units, and isolated during yard time for security reasons.

Located on the first floor, the section has 19 identical cells and a private outdoor space so prisoners are not required to mingle with other prisoners – although they remain exposed to calls, insults and smartphone photos from neighboring units.

Primarily for this reason, Sarkozy will reportedly be held in the segregated section, which is in a isolated area. Practically, the environment are much the same as in QB4: the former president will be solitary in his room and supervised by a guard whenever he leaves it.

“The objective is to prevent any incidents at all, so we need to block him from encountering fellow detainees,” a prison source commented. “The simplest and most efficient approach is to send Nicolas Sarkozy immediately to isolation.”

Accommodation Details

Both solitary and VIP rooms are similar to those in other parts in the jail, roughly around 10 square meters, with coverings on windows intended to restrict contact, a bed, a small desk, a shower unit, lavatory, and stationary phone with authorized contacts only.

Sarkozy will receive regular meals but will also have access to the canteen, where he can acquire items to cook for himself, as well as to a small solitary exercise yard, a gym and the prison library. He can rent a fridge for 7.50 euros a month and a television for fourteen euros fifteen.

Limited Social Contact

Apart from three authorized meetings a each week, he will primarily be by himself – a luxury in the facility, which notwithstanding its recent renovation is functioning at about twice its designed capacity of 657 prisoners. The country's correctional facilities are the third most overcrowded in the EU bloc.

Personal Belongings

Sarkozy, who has repeatedly protested his innocence, has stated he will be bringing with him a biography of Jesus Christ and a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas, in which an falsely convicted person is given a sentence to prison but flees to get retribution.

Sarkozy’s lawyer, Jean-Michel Darrois, mentioned he was additionally bringing noise blockers because the jail can be noisy at during the night, and a few jumpers, because units can be cool. Sarkozy has said he is unafraid of being in prison and aims to make use of the period to compose a publication.

Possible Early Release

It remains uncertain, however, how long he will actually remain in La Santé: his legal team have lodged for his early release, and an judge on appeal will need to demonstrate a risk of flight, further crimes or interfering with witnesses to validate his further imprisonment.

France's law specialists have indicated he could be out before a month passes.