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Maybe France’s most notorious prison, La Santé – where former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has begun a five year jail term for illegal conspiracy to solicit campaign funds from the Libyan government – is the last remaining prison within the city of Paris.

Located in the south part of Montparnasse district of the capital, it opened in 1867 and hosted of at least 40 capital punishments, the final one in 1972. Partially shut down for refurbishment in 2014, the prison reopened five years later and houses more than 1,100 detainees.

Renowned ex- inmates comprise the poet Guillaume Apollinaire, the unauthorized trader Jérôme Kerviel, the civil servant and collaborator with the Nazis Maurice Papon, the entrepreneur and political figure Bernard Tapie, the militant from the seventies Carlos the Jackal, and modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel.

Protected Wing for Notable Prisoners

High-profile or endangered inmates are generally accommodated in the jail’s QB4 section for “protected persons” – the so-called “premium block” – in solitary cells, rather than the standard triple-occupancy cells, and separated during outdoor activities for security reasons.

Situated on the ground floor, the ward has a set of uniform units and a private exercise yard so inmates are not obliged to interact with other prisoners – although they are still subject to whistles, taunts and cellphone pictures from neighboring units.

Mainly for this reason, Sarkozy will reportedly be held in the solitary confinement unit, which is in a distinct block. Actually, the environment are very similar as in QB4: the former president will be by himself in his unit and supervised by a guard each time he exits.

“The aim is to avert any incidents whatsoever, so we need to prevent him from coming into contact with any inmates,” an insider commented. “The easiest and best approach is to assign Nicolas Sarkozy immediately to isolation.”

Living Quarters

Both solitary and VIP units are identical to those elsewhere in the jail, measuring about eleven square meters, with window coverings designed to reduce contact, a sleeping cot, a small desk, a shower, toilet, and landline telephone with pre-recorded numbers.

Sarkozy will be served standard meals but will also have the option to the prison store, where he can purchase groceries to make his own meals, as well as to a individual outdoor space, a exercise room and the prison library. He can rent a fridge for 7.50 euros a per month and a television set for fourteen euros fifteen.

Limited Social Contact

In addition to three permitted visits a per week, he will mostly be by himself – a luxury in La Santé, which notwithstanding its recent upgrades is running at approximately twice its designed capacity of 657 inmates. The country's jails are the third most overcrowded in the EU.

Personal Belongings

Sarkozy, who has consistently asserted his non-guilt, has stated he will be carrying with him a biography of Jesus Christ and a version of The Count of Monte Cristo, by the author Alexandre Dumas, in which an innocent man is sentenced to prison but escapes to get retribution.

Sarkozy’s attorney, Jean-Michel Darrois, mentioned he was also packing earplugs because prison can be disruptive at night, and multiple sweaters, because cells can be chilly. Sarkozy has stated he is fearless of spending time in prison and plans to make use of the period to author a publication.

Release Prospects

It is unclear, nevertheless, how long he will actually stay in the facility: his attorneys have submitted for his conditional release, and an reviewing judge will need to demonstrate a risk of escaping, further crimes or influencing testimony to warrant his further imprisonment.

France's legal experts have proposed he could be out in less than a month.