'Man who drugged wife's suppers so she could be raped by strangers'

Seeking to escape the stresses of stardom, the actress bought a farmhouse, hidden by olive trees and truffle oaks, in the enchanting Provencal village of Mazan. Her low-key wedding, to pop star James Righton, was staged in its handsome town hall.

Surrounded by vineyards on the slopes of Mount Ventoux, this tranquil outpost of 6,500 souls has another claim to fame. Or rather, notoriety.

Now a luxury hotel, its imposing chateau was the family seat of the Marquis de Sade, whose name morphed into a noun describing the act of deriving pleasure from inflicting humiliation and suffering.

Load More