Pierre Cardin restored the Marquis de Sade’s ruined French château, turning it into a festival venue

High above the Luberon Valley in southern France, an old hilltop castle once linked to the infamous Marquis de Sade has been given a new purpose after years of restoration. French fashion designer Pierre Cardin bought the 11th-century Château de Lacoste in 2001 to save it from further damage. He spent millions of euros on repairs and restoration work. Nearly seven years after the project began, the site reopened as a venue for an annual international music and theatre festival. The castle, once known for its links to 18th-century scandal, became an active centre for the performing arts.Origins and aristocratic scandalThe history of Château de Lacoste dates back to the 11th century, when it served as a fortified stronghold for the Simiane family. According to historical records published in the France-Voyage regional archive, the property passed to the Sade family, a powerful family from Provence, in the early 18th century. In 1763, Donatien Alphonse François de Sade, later known as the Marquis de Sade, inherited the estate. The writer and aristocrat used the castle as a retreat when he escaped legal authorities in Paris. Away from the city, he organised private theatrical performan...