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Lacoste en Luberon

Vaucluse Department
Population : 437 people (2007)

In the Northwest limit of the Luberon Mountains, Lacoste has taken command of the plain. Houses are arranged in terraces at the feet of the ruins of the Castle. The site offers us an exceptional panorama on Mont Ventoux, the Luberon and the Vaucluse Mountains and perched villages "Lords of the small Luberon". Its particular place made it for a long time an observation post. Its importance asserted itself when Bonnieux became the Count of Provence's enclave, at the beginning of the XVIth century.

Although become cosmopolitan, the village has preserved its traditions and its inhabitants have welcomed and integrated numerous artists, painters, sculptors... As well as an American school of art.

Lacoste and its architecture Lacoste in the Luberon

Lacoste Luberon Photos Luberon

Friends guests, Lacoste's low street welcomes you with its small businesses. Cross under the former doors of the medieval ramparts, admire façades with beautiful Renaissance windows, the chiselled doors, the entries of alleys said "endrouno"...

Before pursuing the visit of the Lacoste's high Village, take your breath on the square of the Former Temple or on the square of the City hall and appreciate architecture and landscape. By one of the streets, Saint-Trophime Street or Frescado Street, discover the Belfry, one of the jewels of Lacoste. The Castle is the summit of the village.

Monuments

Le Château du Marquis de Sade à Lacoste

- Marquis de Sade's Castle

Lacoste's castle was the Simiane family's castle until the XVIIth. It is bequeathed in 1716 by Isabelle Simiane to his cousin Gaspard-François de Sade, Lord of Saumane and of Mazan, and also grandfather of divine Marquees, Louis-Alphonse Donatien.

Sade rarely came to Lacoste. In 1765, he arrived there with his mistress, Mademosielle Beauvoisin. Then, he returned there in 1766 to begin and to watch works of restoration and embellishment. Plundered and destroyed in the revolution, the Castle is sold to the Marquees of Rovère, delegate, this last one compromised himself in a royalist plot.

Maestro André, notary in Bonnieux for Mrs Marie de Belmont, widow of Rovère, tried to sell the castle by auction... The deal ends on June 29, in 1816: Maestro André drafted the bill of sale to Mr. Pierre Grégoire, carpenter and farmer. The Castle "in ruin... without doors, windows nor chains... is bought for twelve hundred francs".

It is only in 1952 that André BOUER became owner and began his restoration. The new owner, Pierre CARDIN, takes care of the castle and creates every year a Festival of music and theater in his quarries.