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Perhaps the nation's most notorious correctional facility, the La Santé prison – in which former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has begun a five year prison sentence for illegal conspiracy to obtain political donations from Libya – remains the only remaining prison within the Paris city limits.

Located in the south part of Montparnasse district of the city, it first opened in the year 1867 and was the scene of at least 40 executions, the final one in 1972. Partially shut down for refurbishment in 2014, the facility reopened in 2019 and accommodates more than 1,100 prisoners.

Renowned former inmates encompass the poet Guillaume Apollinaire, the rogue trader Jérôme Kerviel, the civil servant and collaborator with the Nazis Maurice Papon, the tycoon and political figure Bernard Tapie, the 70s terrorist Carlos the Jackal, and model agent Jean-Luc Brunel.

Protected Wing for Prominent Inmates

Notable or vulnerable detainees are generally held in the prison's QB4 unit for “vulnerable people” – the dubbed “premium block” – in solitary cells, rather than the standard triple-occupancy cells, and isolated during exercise periods for safety concerns.

Positioned on the initial level, the ward has a set of uniform cells and a dedicated outdoor space so prisoners are not forced to mingle with other prisoners – although they are still exposed to shouts, taunts and cellphone pictures from adjacent cells.

Mostly for that reason, Sarkozy will reportedly be held in the isolation ward, which is in a isolated area. Practically, the environment are much the same as in QB4: the former president will be by himself in his room and escorted by a prison officer every time he leaves it.

“The objective is to avert any issues whatsoever, so we must prevent him from meeting other prisoners,” an insider commented. “The most straightforward and most effective approach is to send Nicolas Sarkozy directly to solitary confinement.”

Living Quarters

Each of the isolation and protected cells are similar to those elsewhere in the prison, averaging about 10 square meters, with coverings on windows created to limit interaction, a bed, a writing table, a shower, WC, and landline telephone with pre-set numbers.

Sarkozy is provided with typical prison food but will also have the option to the canteen, where he can purchase food to make his own meals, as well as to a individual outdoor space, a gym and the prison library. He can rent a cooling unit for seven euros fifty a monthly and a TV for fourteen euros fifteen.

Restricted Visits

Besides three authorized meetings a per week, he will mostly be alone – a luxury in the prison, which notwithstanding its recent renovation is functioning at about double its planned occupancy of 657 detainees. The country's prisons are the third most packed in the European Union.

Prison Supplies

Sarkozy, who has repeatedly maintained his innocence, has said he will be carrying with him a life story of Jesus Christ and a version of The Count of Monte Cristo, by the author Alexandre Dumas, in which an falsely convicted person is given a sentence to prison but escapes to take revenge.

Sarkozy’s lawyer, Jean-Michel Darrois, noted he was additionally taking hearing protection because the facility can be noisy at night, and a few jumpers, because cells can be chilly. Sarkozy has said he is unafraid of being in prison and aims to make use of the period to author a book.

Possible Early Release

It is unclear, however, how long he will in fact stay in La Santé: his legal team have submitted for his early release, and an reviewing judge will must establish a chance of flight, reoffending or influencing testimony to warrant his further imprisonment.

France's law specialists have indicated he might be released within a month.