Lacoste

This perched village is dominated by the ruins of the Marquis de Sade’s castle: here he retired to escape criticism for his licentious tales. In Lacoste he led a libertine life before being arrested and spending 27 years in prison before being driven to suicide.

The castle, which boasted 45 rooms, fell into disrepair and was later bought by Pierre Cardin and converted into a theatre that hosts the Lacoste Festival in July.