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Maybe the nation's most fabled jail, the La Santé prison – where former French president Nicolas Sarkozy is now serving a five year prison sentence for illegal conspiracy to solicit election financing from Libya – stands as the last remaining prison within the French capital's boundaries.

Situated in the south part of Montparnasse neighborhood of the city, it first opened in the year 1867 and was the scene of a minimum of 40 death penalties, the last in 1972. Partially shut down for refurbishment in 2014, the facility reopened half a decade later and accommodates more than 1,100 inmates.

Renowned former prisoners include poet Guillaume Apollinaire, the unauthorized trader Jérôme Kerviel, the public servant and collaborator with the Nazis Maurice Papon, the entrepreneur and politician Bernard Tapie, the 70s terrorist Carlos the Jackal, and modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel.

Protected Wing for Notable Inmates

Prominent or at-risk prisoners are usually held in the prison's QB4 ward for “individuals at risk” – the often called “premium block” – in solitary cells, not the typical three-person units, and kept alone during exercise periods for security reasons.

Located on the ground floor, the unit has a set of uniform units and a dedicated recreation area so detainees are not required to interact with other prisoners – although they continue to be subject to whistles, taunts and smartphone photos from neighboring units.

Mainly for that reason, Sarkozy will reportedly be held in the solitary confinement unit, which is in a isolated area. Actually, conditions are very similar as in the protected unit: the past leader will be solitary in his room and accompanied by a corrections officer every time he exits.

“The goal is to prevent any incidents at all, so we must prevent him from coming into contact with fellow detainees,” a source within the facility revealed. “The simplest and most efficient approach is to place Nicolas Sarkozy directly to segregation.”

Cell Conditions

Both solitary and VIP rooms are similar to those in other parts in the institution, measuring around eleven square meters, with coverings on windows created to limit interaction, a bed, a compact desk, a shower, lavatory, and fixed-line phone with authorized contacts only.

Sarkozy will be served typical prison food but will also have access to the canteen, where he can buy food to make his own meals, as well as to a individual exercise yard, a fitness room and the book collection. He can rent a fridge for 7.50 euros a per month and a TV for €14.15.

Restricted Visits

Apart from three permitted visits a week, he will primarily be by himself – a privilege in the prison, which despite its recent renovation is running at roughly double its planned occupancy of 657 detainees. France’s correctional facilities are the third most overcrowded in the EU.

Items Brought

Sarkozy, who has repeatedly protested his innocence, has declared he will be taking with him a biography of Jesus Christ and a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas, in which an innocent man is given a sentence to prison but breaks out to seek vengeance.

Sarkozy’s legal counsel, Jean-Michel Darrois, mentioned he was also taking earplugs because the jail can be loud at nighttime, and several sweaters, because cells can be cool. Sarkozy has stated he is unafraid of serving time in jail and plans to use it to author a publication.

Uncertain Duration

It is unclear, nevertheless, the length of time he will in fact be housed in the facility: his lawyers have submitted for his conditional release, and an appeals judge will need to demonstrate a potential of flight, reoffending or interfering with witnesses to justify his further imprisonment.

France's legal experts have suggested he may be freed before a month passes.