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Possibly France’s most legendary correctional facility, La Santé – where former French president Nicolas Sarkozy is now serving a five-year prison sentence for unlawful collusion to obtain election financing from the Libyan government – stands as the only remaining prison inside the Paris city limits.

Located in the southern Montparnasse area of the city, it first opened in the year 1867 and was the site of at least 40 death penalties, the last in 1972. Partly closed for renovation in 2014, the institution reopened five years later and accommodates over 1,100 detainees.

Well-known former detainees include the poet Guillaume Apollinaire, the rogue trader Jérôme Kerviel, the public servant and wartime collaborator Maurice Papon, the entrepreneur and political figure Bernard Tapie, the 70s terrorist Carlos the Jackal, and modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel.

VIP Quarters for High-Profile Inmates

Prominent or endangered detainees are generally placed in the prison's QB4 section for “protected persons” – the often called “VIP section” – in individual cells, rather than the typical three-person cells, and kept alone during yard time for security reasons.

Located on the initial level, the ward has 19 identical units and a reserved exercise yard so prisoners are not obliged to mix with fellow inmates – even though they remain exposed to shouts, taunts and cellphone pictures from neighboring units.

Primarily for that reason, Sarkozy will reportedly be held in the segregated section, which is in a separate wing. Practically, circumstances are largely identical as in the QB4 ward: the ex-president will be by himself in his room and supervised by a corrections officer whenever he exits.

“The aim is to prevent any problems whatsoever, so we must block him from meeting any inmates,” an insider revealed. “The simplest and most effective method is to assign Nicolas Sarkozy immediately to isolation.”

Cell Conditions

Both solitary and VIP rooms are similar to those in other parts in the jail, averaging about 10 square meters, with window coverings created to limit contact, a sleeping cot, a writing table, a shower unit, WC, and stationary phone with pre-recorded numbers.

Sarkozy will receive standard meals but will also have access to the prison store, where he can purchase items to cook for himself, as well as to a individual recreation area, a gym and the prison library. He can rent a refrigerator for seven euros fifty a per month and a television for €14.15.

Limited Social Contact

In addition to three allowed visits a week, he will mostly be on his own – an advantage in the facility, which notwithstanding its recent renovation is functioning at roughly double its designed capacity of 657 inmates. France’s correctional facilities are the third most congested in the EU.

Items Brought

Sarkozy, who has consistently maintained his non-guilt, has declared he will be bringing with him a life story of Jesus Christ and a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo, by the author Alexandre Dumas, in which an wrongly accused individual is given a sentence to jail but escapes to take revenge.

Sarkozy’s attorney, Jean-Michel Darrois, noted he was additionally taking noise blockers because prison can be loud at nighttime, and multiple sweaters, because units can be cool. Sarkozy has commented he is unafraid of being in prison and plans to make use of the period to write a manuscript.

Uncertain Duration

The duration is unknown, however, for how long he will in fact be housed in La Santé: his lawyers have submitted for his premature release, and an appeals judge will need to demonstrate a risk of absconding, reoffending or influencing testimony to warrant his ongoing incarceration.

France's legal experts have proposed he might be released before a month passes.