11km (7 miles) S of Roussillon; 45km (28 miles) N of Aix-en-Provence
This romantic hill town, nestled in the heart of the Petit Luberon, commands views of nearby Roussillon, the whole Coulon Valley, and the infamous Château de Lacoste, whose ruins bear testament to the life of its disturbed owner, Donatien Alphonse François, comte de Sade (also known as the marquis de Sade), who lived there in the 1770s. The celebrated marquis, who gave us the term sadism, died in a lunatic asylum. Because of the danger of falling stones, the ruins of the château cannot be visited -- even by the most devoted aficionados of de Sade -- but merely admired from afar.
Strategically located between Spain and Italy, Bonnieux has had a bloody history of raids and battles since its beginnings in Roman times, when it stood closer to the valley floor. To better defend itself, the town was moved farther up the hill during the 1200s, when it also received sturdy ramparts and sentry towers. In the 16th century, Bonnieux grew into a Catholic stronghold and often found itself surrounded by Protestants who were suspicious and jealous of its thriving economy. Since its streets were lined with mansion after mansion belonging to prominent bishops, allegations swirled around that the town received particular "favors" to bolster its standing. Envy and zeal got the best of the Protestants, and they eventually laid siege to the town, killing approximately 3,000 of the 4,000 inhabitants. Even though Bonnieux is the largest hill town in the area, its population never truly recovered and continues to hover around 1,500.
