The village that Pierre Cardin bought

Famous residents include Peter Mayle, Tom Stoppard and John Malkovich Photograph: Corine Brisbois/Fedephoto

Cardin has bought over 20 houses, two castles and employs dozens of people in the village Photograph: Corine Brisbois/Fedephoto

Cardin wants the village to be a refuge for world artists, with luxury hotels, a top restaurant and a De Sade cafe Photograph: Corine Brisbois/Fedephoto

But many villagers warn that the plague of De Sade-themed businesses is spoiling the otherwise picture-perfect village Photograph: Corine Brisbois/Fedephoto

Lacoste, once a protestant and later a communist stronghold, is no stranger to rebellion, and campaigners have already gone to a tribunal to stop Cardin building a Greek ampitheatre Photograph: Corine Brisbois/Fedephoto

Many villagers see Cardin as a predator, prepared to pay more than double the value of old houses, pricing local families out of the market Photograph: Corine Brisbois/Fedephoto

Some of the villagers have started a new campaign in protest at Cardin's plans for Lacoste Photograph: Corine Brisbois/Fedephoto