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Possibly the nation's most notorious prison, La Santé – where ex-president of France Nicolas Sarkozy has begun a five-year incarceration for criminal conspiracy to raise election financing from the Libyan government – stands as the last remaining prison within the city of Paris.

Situated in the south part of Montparnasse district of the city, it first opened in the year 1867 and was the site of a minimum of 40 death penalties, the final one in 1972. Partly closed for renovation in 2014, the prison reopened five years later and houses over 1,100 prisoners.

Famous ex- prisoners comprise poet Guillaume Apollinaire, the unauthorized trader Jérôme Kerviel, the civil servant and collaborator with the Nazis Maurice Papon, the entrepreneur and politician Bernard Tapie, the militant from the seventies Carlos the Jackal, and model agent Jean-Luc Brunel.

VIP Quarters for Prominent Inmates

High-profile or vulnerable detainees are typically held in the jail’s QB4 ward for “individuals at risk” – the dubbed “premium block” – in solitary cells, not the usual three-person cells, and kept alone during outdoor activities for security reasons.

Situated on the first floor, the unit has a set of uniform cells and a dedicated outdoor space so inmates are not forced to mix with fellow inmates – while they remain exposed to whistles, jeers and smartphone photos from nearby cells.

Mainly for such concerns, Sarkozy is expected to be placed in the isolation ward, which is in a isolated area. Actually, the environment are much the same as in the QB4 ward: the former president will be alone in his unit and escorted by a guard each time he goes out.

“The objective is to prevent any issues at all, so we need to prevent him from meeting any inmates,” a source within the facility commented. “The most straightforward and most efficient solution is to place Nicolas Sarkozy directly to isolation.”

Living Quarters

Each of the solitary and VIP rooms are identical to those in other parts in the prison, measuring approximately 10 sq metres, with window blinds designed to limit contact, a sleeping cot, a writing table, a shower unit, toilet, and stationary phone with pre-recorded numbers.

Sarkozy is provided with regular meals but will additionally have access to the commissary, where he can purchase food to cook for himself, as well as to a individual exercise yard, a fitness room and the library. He can lease a refrigerator for 7.50 euros a per month and a television for €14.15.

Restricted Visits

In addition to three allowed visits a per week, he will mainly be alone – an advantage in the prison, which in spite of its recent upgrades is functioning at about twice its planned occupancy of 657 inmates. The country's jails are the third most overcrowded in the European Union.

Personal Belongings

Sarkozy, who has consistently protested his non-guilt, has said he will be bringing with him a account of Jesus Christ and a edition of The Count of Monte Cristo, by the author Alexandre Dumas, in which an wrongly accused individual is condemned to prison but escapes to seek vengeance.

Sarkozy’s attorney, Jean-Michel Darrois, mentioned he was also taking hearing protection because prison can be disruptive at night, and multiple sweaters, because cells can be cold. Sarkozy has commented he is fearless of being in prison and intends to make use of the period to compose a publication.

Possible Early Release

It is unclear, nevertheless, for how long he will actually stay in the prison: his lawyers have already filed for his premature release, and an appeals judge will must establish a potential of escaping, reoffending or influencing testimony to justify his further imprisonment.

France's law specialists have indicated he could be out in less than a month.