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Possibly the nation's most notorious jail, La Santé – in which former French president Nicolas Sarkozy is now serving a five year prison sentence for unlawful collusion to raise election financing from the Libyan government – is the last remaining prison within the city of Paris.

Found in the south part of Montparnasse area of the city, it first opened in 1867 and hosted of no fewer than 40 capital punishments, the most recent in 1972. Partly shut down for refurbishment in 2014, the facility resumed operations five years later and holds more than 1,100 detainees.

Famous former prisoners comprise the poet Guillaume Apollinaire, the unauthorized trader Jérôme Kerviel, the civil servant and Nazi collaborator Maurice Papon, the entrepreneur and politician Bernard Tapie, the 70s terrorist Carlos the Jackal, and modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel.

Protected Wing for Prominent Prisoners

Notable or endangered prisoners are typically held in the prison's QB4 unit for “protected persons” – the often called “premium block” – in single cells, not the typical triple-occupancy cells, and separated during yard time for protection purposes.

Situated on the first floor, the unit has 19 identical rooms and a dedicated exercise yard so detainees are not required to mix with other prisoners – although they continue to be exposed to calls, jeers and smartphone photos from adjacent cells.

Primarily for that reason, Sarkozy is set to be housed in the segregated section, which is in a isolated area. Practically, the environment are largely identical as in the protected unit: the former president will be alone in his room and escorted by a prison officer every time he exits.

“The objective is to prevent any incidents whatsoever, so we need to prevent him from meeting any inmates,” a prison source revealed. “The simplest and best approach is to send Nicolas Sarkozy straight to segregation.”

Living Quarters

Each of the isolation and VIP units are the same to those in other parts in the jail, measuring approximately 10 sq metres, with coverings on windows created to restrict communication, a bed, a writing table, a shower, toilet, and fixed-line phone with pre-set numbers.

Sarkozy will be served standard meals but will also have access to the commissary, where he can purchase groceries to cook for himself, as well as to a private exercise yard, a gym and the library. He can rent a refrigerator for €7.50 a monthly and a television set for fourteen euros fifteen.

Controlled Interactions

Besides three permitted visits a each week, he will mostly be alone – a privilege in La Santé, which notwithstanding its recent upgrades is functioning at roughly double its designed capacity of 657 inmates. France’s jails are the third most packed in the EU bloc.

Items Brought

Sarkozy, who has repeatedly protested his innocence, has said he will be carrying with him a biography of Jesus Christ and a version of The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas, in which an innocent man is condemned to prison but flees to seek vengeance.

Sarkozy’s lawyer, Jean-Michel Darrois, noted he was additionally packing noise blockers because the jail can be loud at during the night, and several sweaters, because units can be chilly. Sarkozy has stated he is not scared of being in prison and aims to use it to compose a book.

Uncertain Duration

It remains uncertain, nevertheless, for how long he will really be housed in La Santé: his attorneys have already filed for his premature release, and an judge on appeal will have to prove a chance of flight, reoffending or interfering with witnesses to validate his continued detention.

French legal experts have indicated he might be released within a month.