Lacoste, Vaucluse
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View of Lacoste
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 Lacoste
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Location within Provence-A.-C.d'A. region
Lacoste
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| Coordinates: 43°49′59″N 5°16′27″E / 43.8331°N 5.2742°ECoordinates: 43°49′59″N 5°16′27″E / 43.8331°N 5.2742°E | ||
| Country | France | |
| Region | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | |
| Department | Vaucluse | |
| Arrondissement | Apt | |
| Canton | Apt | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor (2008-2014) | Patricia Louche | |
| Area1 | 10.66 km2 (4.12 sq mi) | |
| Population (2006)2 | 446 | |
| • Density | 42/km2 (110/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 84058 /84480 | |
| Elevation | 153–716 m (502–2,349 ft) (avg. 320 m or 1,050 ft) |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
Lacoste is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
Its population doubles in size during the height of the summer tourist season.
Lacoste is a picturesque old mountain village overlooking the village of Bonnieux and the Grand Luberon Mountains to the east, and flanked by Mont Ventoux to the north, and the Petit Luberon to the south. There is also a path through the valley that leads from Bonnieux to Lacoste (about a 45-minute walk).
The vernacular architecture and cobblestone streets give the impression of a village where time has stood still. The oldest building in the town, the Maison Forte, dates back to the 9th century while the nearby Pont Julien remains one of the oldest standing examples of a working 1st century B.C. Roman bridge. Finnbar Mac Eoin, author of "Two Suitcases And A Dog" lives in Lacoste. He was the last person to cross The Pont Julien before it closed to traffic in 2005. A plaque states, "We do not know who was the first person to cross, but an Irishman was the last".
Lacoste is best known for its most notorious resident, Donatien Alphonse Francois comte de Sade, the Marquis de Sade, who in the 18th century lived in the castle, Château de Lacoste, overlooking the village. Following a series of incidents involving local women and the police, the Marquis fled the country but was eventually imprisoned. His castle was partially destroyed in an uprising in 1779 and was later looted and plundered by locals. It is now owned by fashion designer Pierre Cardin, who has partially restored it and holds cultural events there.
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Wikipedia