10 July 2017

Le Château de Lacoste, Lacoste, Vaucluse (84)

Le Château de Lacoste is on a hill at the top of Lacoste village and although the original castle dates from the eleventh century, it has evidently been much modified since then. It passed into the ownership of the Sade family, and is today inevitably known as 'le château du Marquis de Sade'. The infamous marquis stayed here on several occasions between 1769 and 1778, the longest being in 1772, when he had a theatre constructed for 120 spectators. he is said to have been 'extraordinarily attached' to the building, which was in large part destroyed during the French Revolution. Despairing of the loss, Sade, riddled by debt, was forced to sell the property. The ruins were named a 'monument historique' in 1992, and in 2001 couturier Pierre Cardin bought it and began some restoration. In the summer there is an annual music festival there.








Pierre Cardin's shop is below in the village. Yes, of course it was closed.

And of course, there is a bust of Sade in the window.

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