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Maybe the nation's most legendary prison, the La Santé prison – where ex-president of France Nicolas Sarkozy is now serving a five year incarceration for illegal conspiracy to obtain political donations from Libya – remains the only remaining prison inside the Paris city limits.

Found in the south part of Montparnasse neighborhood of the capital, it first opened in 1867 and was the site of no fewer than 40 capital punishments, the last in 1972. Partially closed for refurbishment in 2014, the facility reopened five years later and houses in excess of 1,100 inmates.

Well-known former inmates encompass the poet Guillaume Apollinaire, the unauthorized trader Jérôme Kerviel, the public servant and Nazi collaborator Maurice Papon, the entrepreneur and politician Bernard Tapie, the militant from the seventies Carlos the Jackal, and modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel.

Protected Wing for High-Profile Prisoners

Notable or at-risk prisoners are typically held in the prison's QB4 unit for “protected persons” – the so-called “premium block” – in solitary cells, not the standard three-person rooms, and isolated during yard time for security reasons.

Situated on the initial level, the unit has a set of uniform units and a private exercise yard so detainees are not required to mix with fellow inmates – while they remain subject to calls, jeers and smartphone photos from neighboring units.

Mostly for that reason, Sarkozy will reportedly be held in the solitary confinement unit, which is in a distinct block. Practically, the environment are much the same as in the QB4 ward: the ex-president will be solitary in his cell and accompanied by a corrections officer each time he goes out.

“The objective is to avoid any issues whatsoever, so we have to prevent him from meeting fellow detainees,” an insider commented. “The simplest and most efficient solution is to assign Nicolas Sarkozy straight to solitary confinement.”

Living Quarters

Both isolation and VIP rooms are similar to those elsewhere in the prison, measuring about 10 sq metres, with coverings on windows intended to limit contact, a bed, a small desk, a shower unit, WC, and stationary phone with authorized contacts only.

Sarkozy will be served standard meals but will also have the ability to the commissary, where he can purchase food to prepare himself, as well as to a individual recreation area, a exercise room and the prison library. He can rent a cooling unit for €7.50 a per month and a television set for €14.15.

Controlled Interactions

In addition to three authorized meetings a per week, he will mostly be alone – a luxury in the prison, which in spite of its recent upgrades is functioning at approximately twice its designed capacity of 657 detainees. France’s correctional facilities are the third most overcrowded in the EU bloc.

Personal Belongings

Sarkozy, who has consistently maintained his innocence, has declared he will be carrying with him a life story of Jesus Christ and a version of The Count of Monte Cristo, by the author Alexandre Dumas, in which an innocent man is condemned to jail but escapes to get retribution.

Sarkozy’s legal counsel, Jean-Michel Darrois, noted he was also bringing hearing protection because the jail can be disruptive at nighttime, and a few jumpers, because rooms can be chilly. Sarkozy has stated he is unafraid of spending time in prison and intends to use it to author a manuscript.

Uncertain Duration

The duration is unknown, nevertheless, the length of time he will really remain in the facility: his legal team have lodged for his premature release, and an reviewing judge will need to demonstrate a chance of absconding, repeat offenses or influencing testimony to validate his further imprisonment.

France's law specialists have suggested he could be out within a month.